Whoever does not accept the Kingdom of God like a child will not enter it. The kingdom was the central theme of Jesus’ preaching mission. His presence had ushered in the awaited kingdom of God, and all that was left was for his hearers to jump in and “enter” the kingdom. Well, there were some who did not believe in his assertion (“the kingdom of God is within you” cf. Luke 17:21). They had heard him preach and witnessed him perform mighty acts. In his sermons and teachings, Jesus had invited them to join him in proclaiming the kingdom of God. But they were still hesitant. They still watched from a distance and from across the street. They didn’t want to get close. The children brought to Jesus did exactly the opposite. They came to Jesus and joined him. They sat with him, listened to him, and received his blessing. They were not afraid of Jesus. There was nothing that could prevent them from approaching Jesus.
Entering the kingdom of God demands assuming the attitude of a child. It means getting rid of anything that might prevent one from “approaching” others and from being “approachable.” It means seeing no threat in the other, accepting him/her as one to whom one can approach for blessings. Entering the kingdom of God means cultivating the ability to listen to others while sitting at their feet (position of humility).