As I came into the Church, I was intrigued by the overlap between beliefs of Christianity and other religions.
When Jesus said, “unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven,” it reminded me of the concept of “Beginner’s Mind” in Zen Buddhism. Each encourages a childlike humility, full of faith and wonder.
In the gospel of Saint Matthew, Jesus, said,
“Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them, and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
This discovery validated the Church’s teaching that God revealed much through the natural order and natural law. These truths are true no matter your religion or social construct.
But the fullness of truth is found in the Catholic Church, where the truths of natural law are combined with divine revelation – God speaking through human prophets via the Holy Spirit. Those two, combining faith and reason, paint the full picture of truth, shared in the love of the Tradition and teaching authority of the Church.
Let’s pray – Father of Grace and Mercy. You shine the light of your love through the pillar and bulwark of truth, the Catholic Church. Help us to approach all you reveal like a child, with a beginner’s mind, full of humility, awe and wonder. Amen.