“Of such are the kingdom of heaven”:A child doth not for long remain angry or remember an injury; he taketh no lustful pleasure in looking at a beautiful woman; he doth not think one thing and say another.”

 From the Holy Gospel according to Mark

Mark 10:13-21
At that time: They brought young children to Jesus, that he should touch them: and his disciples rebuked those that brought them. And so on, and that which followeth.

A Homily by St. Venerable Bede the Priest
Commentarium in Marcum 10:13-21
Jesus saith unto his disciples: Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. It is noteworthy that he saith: Of such; not: Of these. That is, he is concerned with conduct, not with age; for the reward is promised to all such as are like unto children, not in age, but in innocence and simplicity; as saith the Apostle: Be not children in understanding; howbeit, in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men. Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein. A child doth not for long remain angry or remember an injury; he taketh no lustful pleasure in looking at a beautiful woman; he doth not think one thing and say another. In like manner, ye also, unless ye have this innocence and purity of soul, cannot enter the kingdom of heaven. We are commanded to receive the kingdom of God (that is, the teaching of the Gospel) like as children, because they, when learning, do not contradict their teacher, nor adduce reasons and arguments against them, but trustingly accept what they are taught in respectful silence and obedience. And the Lord took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them. He blesseth the children by taking them up in his arms, to shew that such as are poor in spirit do merit his blessing, grace, and love.

Saint Gabriel of Our Lady of Sorrows, pray for us.