God is wise in heart and mighty in strength; who has withstood him and remained whole? // Job 9:4
It’s likely because I’m a twin and spent nine months sharing a womb with my brother, but I’ve always found comfort and security in small spaces. There’s something seemingly safe about curling up, tucked away, in a secret place.
Growing up, that place was the back corner of my closet. I would disappear there and sit in the dark, still quiet. Later, I think my friends were always grateful when I volunteered to squeeze into the back of the car surrounded by all the luggage during road trips!
If only that was the type of being “small” that Jesus alludes to in today’s Gospel, urging us to become like little children (see Matthew 18:3). The littleness Jesus wants from us—this childlikeness—isn’t about becoming small enough to squirrel away into our favorite childhood hideout, but it is about becoming interiorly small, completely dependent on our Heavenly Father for everything.
We learn this littleness in Job: “God is wise in heart and mighty in strength; who has withstood him and remained whole?” (Job 9:4) When we acknowledge the greatness of God we do so not with fear, but with a sober realization of Who He is and who we are. He is the God Who loves us infinitely, perfectly, completely, and unconditionally, as a good father loves his little children. We need not contend with Him for power or greatness, but merely receive Him, strong not in our own understanding but in our trust of His providence and His desire for our good.
Centuries after Job was written, Saint Catherine of Siena wrote, in words spoken by the Father, "Do you know, daughter, who you are and who I am? [. . .] You are she who is not, and I AM HE WHO IS” (source). These words are not meant to shame, but to free us to become like children in the arms of a Father Who wills for us goodness beyond our wildest imaginations.
Today, acknowledge God’s wisdom, might, and strength (see Job 9:4) and become like a child in the loving embrace of your Father.
Sister Maria Fatima grew up in Rhode Island and entered the Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist in 2005. She holds a MA in Theology from the Saint Paul Seminary School of Divinity. Sister is in her eleventh year of enlightening middle school minds and drawing hearts to Jesus while teaching religion and history. She currently resides at the motherhouse in Ann Arbor, MI, having previously taught in Texas, Florida, and Ohio. She is a contributing author to our Lent devotional All She Had.
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