ACC ~ Luke 18 v15 - 17

MOTHERS STILL BRING INFANTS TO JESUS

CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA: Mothers brought their babes. They wanted his blessing and begged for their infants the touch of his holy hand. The blessed disciples rebuked them for doing this, not because they envied the babes; rather they were paying him due respect as their teacher and preventing him from getting unnecessarily tired. They placed much value on order.

Even until now, infants are brought near and blessed by Christ by means of consecrated hands. The pattern of the act continues even until this day and descends to us from the custom of Christ as its fountain. Only now, the bringing of infants does not take place in an unbecoming or disorderly manner but with proper order, solemnity and reverence. COMMENTARY ON LUKE, HOMILY 121. [1]

[1] CGSL 483**.

THE SIMPLICITY, INNOCENCE AND HUMILITY OF CHILDREN

CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA: What is there in babies that is worthy of imitation? Is it their lack of firmness and intelligence? It is incredible to affirm or imagine anything like this. Christ, however, does not wish us to be without understanding but wants us perfectly to know everything that is useful and necessary for our salvation. Wisdom even promises that she will give cleverness to the simple and the beginning of sense and understanding to the young. [1] … How someone might at once be both simple and clever, the Savior explains to us elsewhere, saying, “Be clever as serpents and simple as doves.” [2] Blessed Paul also writes, “My brothers, do not be children in your minds, but in wickedness be babies, and in your minds grown men.” [3]

It is necessary to examine the meaning of being babies in wickedness and the way a person becomes a baby, but a grown person in mind. Knowing very little or nothing at all, a baby is correctly acquitted of the charge of depravity and wickedness. It is also our duty to attempt to be like them in the very same way. We must entirely put away from us habits of wickedness, that we also may be regarded as people who do not even know the path that leads to deception. Unconscious of spite and fraud, we must live in a simple and innocent manner, practicing gentleness and a priceless humility and readily avoiding wrath and spitefulness. These qualities are found in those who are still babies. COMMENTARY ON LUKE, HOMILY 121. [4]

[1] Prov 1:4.

[2] Mt 10:16.

[3] 1 Cor 14:20.

[4] CGSL 483-84**.

GOODNESS RIVALING CHILDLIKE SIMPLICITY

AMBROSE: Why does he say that children are fit for the kingdom of heaven? [1] Perhaps it is because they do not know spitefulness, have not learned to deceive, dare not strike back, [2] neglect to search for wealth, and do not work after honor and ambition. … Childhood is not meant, but rather goodness rivaling childlike simplicity. [3] It is not a virtue to be unable to sin, but to be unwilling to do so and to retain perseverance of will, so that the will imitates childhood and the person imitates nature. EXPOSITION OF THE GOSPEL OF LUKE 8.57. [4]

[1] See Mt 19:14.

[2] See 1 Pet 2:22-23.

[3] See 1 Cor 4:20.

[4] EHG 354**.

INFANTS ENTER THE KINGDOM OF GOD THROUGH HOLY BAPTISM

AUGUSTINE: The other doctrine that your brotherhood claims they preach, that little children can attain the reward of eternal life without the grace of baptism, is very foolish. “Unless they eat of the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, they will not have life in them.” [1] It seems to me that those who claim this for them without regeneration want to nullify baptism, since they teach that these children have what they believe is not to be bestowed on them in baptism even by themselves. If they do not want anything to stand in their way, let them confess that there is no need of rebirth and that the sacred stream of regeneration has no effect. The Lord proclaims this in the Gospel to disarm the vicious doctrine of proud people by the swift reasoning of truth. He says, “Allow the little children, and do not forbid them to come to me.” LETTER 182. [2]

[1] Jn 6:54.

[2] FC 30:130*.