The Rev. Tom Babu, pastor of St. Teresa of Avila Catholic Community in Carson City, Nevada, shared a reflection in the church's Aug. 23 bulletin.

Jesus compels us to be like little children in order to enter into the kingdom of heaven.

“What Jesus means by this seems obvious: Salvation involves a return to a state of moral innocence, like children,” Babu said.

While children do need discipline and can do wrong, Jesus was saying that we must be filled with the wonder and fascination that children possess about the world.

Before the fall, Adam and Eve possessed this gift of wonder at all that God had bestowed upon them. 

The Church has a rich tradition through the writings of St. Paul to be filled with wonder and awe at our story of salvation.

“‘Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God!’ This is the cry of a childlike, grace-filled, healthy Christian heart,” Fr. Babu said.