COME TO GOD WITH THE HEART OF A CHILD

TODAY’S REFLECTION ON THE WORD OF GOD: COME TO GOD WITH THE HEART OF A CHILD

Saturday, 15 August 2026

Readings: Ezekiel 18:1–10, 13b, 30–32 • Psalm 51:12–13, 14–15, 18–19 • Matthew 19:13–15

In today’s first reading, God gives us a very clear message through the Prophet Ezekiel: each person is responsible for his or her own life and choices. God calls us to turn away from sin, return to Him, and renew our hearts and our lives. God does not desire our destruction. Rather, He desires that we repent and live. Therefore, His Word calls us to turn away from our sins so that they will no longer become a stumbling block in our lives.

Repentance is not merely feeling sorry for the mistakes of the past. Repentance means having the courage to change the direction of our lives. We leave behind what is not pleasing to God and choose His way once again. We ask Him to renew our hearts, as the psalmist prays today: “Create a clean heart in me, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.”

Today’s Gospel presents a very simple yet profound scene. People bring children to Jesus so that He may lay His hands on them and pray for them. The disciples try to prevent them, but Jesus says, “Let the children come to me, and do not prevent them; for the Kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”

Why does Jesus welcome the children so warmly? It is not because children are always perfect, but because they possess something that we often gradually lose as we grow older: simplicity of heart, sincerity, trust, and dependence.

A child comes to his or her parents with trust. A child does not need to know all the answers first. There is confidence in being loved, protected, and cared for. This is also how our relationship with God should be.

Yet as we journey through life, our hearts often become more complicated. Experiences, disappointments, achievements, ambitions, worries, and even wounds from the past can make us depend too much on ourselves. We want to understand everything before we believe. We want to see the results before we take the first step. We pray, but deep inside we may still want God to follow our plans.

Today Jesus invites us to rediscover the faith of a child.

Come to God just as you are. Entrust to Him whatever you are struggling with. When the road ahead is unclear, continue to trust. When prayers seem unanswered, do not stop hoping. When you experience failure, do not distance yourself from God. And when you are blessed with success, remain humble and remember that everything we have comes from His love and grace.

There are several attitudes of heart that we can nurture today.

First, a simple heart. Do not make our relationship with God unnecessarily complicated. Pray honestly, listen to His Word, and then do what we know is right.

Second, a trusting heart. We may not know what tomorrow will bring, but we know the God who holds tomorrow in His hands.

Third, a heart willing to be formed. Like a child who continues to learn, we should never think that we already know everything. Allow God to correct us, teach us, and renew our lives.

Fourth, a heart that quickly returns to God. When we fall into sin or make mistakes, let us not remain trapped in guilt. Repent, rise again, and return to Him.

Fifth, a heart that depends on God. We must continue to work hard, make plans, and give our best. But ultimately, we recognize that our strength, opportunities, health, life, and success are all gifts from God.

Perhaps today we are carrying many things in our hearts: our families, work, business, ministry, dreams, struggles, or an uncertain future. Jesus speaks to us as He welcomed the children: Come to Me.

Do not let busyness prevent us from coming to God. Do not let pride make us feel that we do not need Him. And do not let our failures and sins make us afraid to approach Him.

Let us come with the heart of a child: simple in faith, sincere in love, humble in success, and full of trust in every circumstance.

The more we surrender our lives to God, the more we discover that our greatest strength is not found in being able to control everything, but in being able to say with faith:

“Lord, I trust in You. Shape my heart, guide my steps, and let Your will be done in my life.”

Prayer: Lord Jesus, create in me a clean and renewed heart. Forgive all my sins and weaknesses, and teach me always to return to You. Give me the heart of a child: simple, sincere, humble, and full of trust in You. When I do not understand the path of my life, strengthen my faith. When I succeed, keep me humble. When I fall, give me the courage to repent and rise again. I entrust my family, work, ministry, dreams, and entire future into Your hands. Guide every step I take so that my life may become increasingly pleasing to You and a blessing to others. Amen.

Pontianak, 15 August 2026
Dr. Manuntun Sitinjak