Keys are items or tools that are very important in life. They are designed to either grant or deny people access to a special place. For example, a safety deposit box in a bank comes with keys, without which you might be denied access, even with proper identification. House keys allow only certain people (generally family members) access to where you live. We lock our cars to prevent them from being stolen by strangers. But what about special keys; keys to the Kingdom of Heaven?
I used to work in a government building where missile controllers were trained. Missile controllers, senior submarine commanders and maybe another nuclear related profession or two of which I am not acquainted with involve matching keys. It takes two keys to activate a missile with a nuclear warhead. Two different people get a copy of the key and the key must be inserted in their respective keyholes and turned simultaneously or the launch will abort. But the keyholes in a silo are far enough apart so a single person cannot reach both at the same time. This prevents one person from launching (no doubt a submarine has a different layout.)
Keys have always been important. They had keys even before Christ was born. Afterall, there were prisons and dungeons and treasure chests centuries ago. Over time, however, these crude keys became more and more intricate and sophisticated. Eventually, they were replaced with the sort of credit card keys you use in hotel rooms that can be reprogrammed after a guest checks out. Now, keys are being abandoned in favor of FOBs, keypads, biometric locks that scan your fingertips or the iris of your eye. Or, maybe it’s a voiceprint?
How does one get into Heaven? Unfortunately, some people make no provision in this life for that eventuality and they find themselves locked out when they die. They were warned, but did not take the warning seriously while there was still time. Being granted access to Heaven is not a matter of possessing a key or a programmed card or looking into an optical reader. Access is based on faith in Jesus Christ as God’s son and savior. That is the key that allows you passage through the so-called Pearly Gates. Knowing how to unlock the gates of heaven is so simple that even a small child can do it. However, many people much older and much more clever, much more learned than children find that they cannot manage to unlock the heavenly gates themselves, because they lack this saving faith.
In Matthew 19:13-15 we find Jesus talking to a crowd of people.
Then people brought little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples rebuked them. Jesus said, ‘Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.’ When he had placed his hands on them, he went on from there.”
So, picture this in your mind. People in the crowd surged forward with their children. They wanted Jesus to bless them and their youngsters. This happens even today whenever the Pope is greeting a crowd. Catholics love the Pope and want their children to experience the moment. They want a Papal blessing for their family, How much more did the people in the Gospel long, long ago want Jesus’ blessing?
The disciples, however, objected to this. What was their problem? Did they think the children were getting in the way? Climbing on Jesus? Distracting him? Pestering Him with questions? Clearly, they had no problem with the adults wanting to be close, but the disciples apparently thought that focusing on the children was not worth Jesus’ time. Yet, only earlier Jesus had brought up the subject of children to them. Children as as important to Him as anyone. They remembered:
He called a little child and had him stand among them. And he said: “I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”
What does this mean? Well, St. Chrysostom notes that when Jesus said, “‘of such is the kingdom of Heaven,’ that by choice we should practice these things, which young children have by nature” (Homilies of Chrysostom.) Chrysostom says that small children don’t care about money and they are not preoccupied with their appearance. They are neither proud or vain. They don’t rejoice at another’s misfortune. They are not ordinarily cruel and aren’t interested in being more clever or more sophisticated than any other child.
I asked Chat GPT to describe the personality of a small child. This AI program replied: “The personality of a small child is characterized by curiosity, innocence, and a natural sense of wonder.” Here are some common traits associated with the personality of young children according to artificial intelligence:
1. Curiosity: Children are naturally curious about the world around them. They ask numerous questions, eager to explore and understand their environment. This curiosity is a key driver of their early learning experiences.
2. Innocence: Small children are often innocent and trusting. They approach the world with a lack of cynicism, assuming the best in people and situations. This innocence contributes to their openness and receptivity to new experiences.
3. Playfulness: Play is a significant part of a child’s life. They engage in imaginative play, using their creativity to invent scenarios and stories. Play helps them develop social, cognitive, and physical skills.
4. Emotional Expressiveness: Young children often express their emotions openly and without inhibition. Their emotions can range from joy and excitement to frustration and sadness. As they are still developing emotional regulation skills, these expressions can be intense and change rapidly.
5. Dependency: Children depend on adults for care, guidance, and support. They form strong attachments to caregivers and seek comfort and reassurance from them. This dependency is a fundamental aspect of early childhood development.
6. Impulsivity: Small children are known for their impulsive behavior. They may act on their immediate desires without fully considering the consequences. This is a normal part of their development as they learn to navigate and understand the world around them.
7. Trust: Trust is a crucial component of a child’s personality. They rely on the trust they have in their caregivers to meet their needs and provide a safe environment. Establishing trust is vital for healthy emotional and social development.
8. Eagerness to Learn: Children have a natural eagerness to learn new things. They are like sponges, soaking up information from their surroundings. Early childhood is a critical time for cognitive development, and children are constantly absorbing language, concepts, and social skills.
Can we assume then that these are the traits that Jesus would require of us? Innocence, playfulness, trust, eagerness to learn, etc.? Or, should we be plagued with guilt, aloof, suspicious and intransigent in our ways? Jesus saw a childlike faith filled with wonder when He spoke. The children were simple and sincere.
I remember years ago a television host named Art Linkletter had a show called “Kids Say the Darndest Things.” He would interview children between the ages of three to five. He had these probing questions that would get children to blurt out almost anything much to the horror and chagrin of their parents. This is because the parent would try to “coach” to child not to mention any family secrets (e.g., “Daddy cusses about his boss a lot” or “Mommy has a boyfriend.”) Small children do not understand the corrosive nature of a secret, or shame of embarrassment and so on. And the producer of the Linkletter show was right. Kids do say the darndest things.
I know a story about a prayer meeting. There were a dozen or so adults about to pray after church or Bible stodu one evening. There was also a little girl present and when everyone else had prayed in turn for this problem or that concern, she asked if she could pray, too. The prayer leader said “Of course.” So, the little girl prayed:
Dear God. A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K . . . Q, R, S, T, U, V, W, X, V, Z. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
The prayer leader asked the little girl what kind of prayer was that? The girl replied:”Well, I didn’t know what to pray for so, I thought I’d give God all the letters and let Him put it together himself.”
That was a prayer.
Think of when you were young and innocent. What was it in your life that happened to cause you to lose this wonderful feeling? Why are you unforgiving? Cynical? Dishonest? Untrusting? Jesus can restore this happiness in your life. Your keys are waiting for you.
