Marist Simplicity

Today's Gospel, (Mat 18:1-5, 10, 12-14) recalls the answer Jesus gave when the disciples asked "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" Like us, these disciples wanted to be the best; being Number One, was as important to them as it is to some of us. Yet, the answer was not, "The ones who have a Ph.D, nor the most power nor money," but a little child. There is something beguiling about a child and its sense of curiosity, wonder, trust, dependency, that is not only attractive, but evidently necessary. The humility of a child serves as the model for us and the key to a deeper relationship with Jesus. It is no surprise that St. Marcellin, whose humble beginnings always stayed with him, and kept him totally dependent on God and his mother, Mary, stressed simplicity, childlike simplicity, as one of the major virtues and characteristics of a Marist. It is so easy to avoid or ignore this simplicity as we get older and take on more responsibility for our own lives and those of others, especially our children, but if we simply relax and be who we are, keep a prayerful heart, and remind ourselves each day as we say the Lord's Prayer, that God is our Father, and we still, not matter what age we be, are one of his children, we will be living a life of Marist simplicity. Bro. Rene