Children And Humility

Et advocans Jesus parvulum, statuit eum in medio eorum... Vel simpliciter quemlibet parvulum, ut aetatem quaereret, et similitudinem innocentiae demonstraret. Vel certe parvulum statuit in medio eorum seipsum, qui non ministrari, sed ministrare venerat, ut eis humilitatis tribueret exemplum. Alii parvulum interpretantur Spiritum sanctum, quem posuerit in cordibus discipulorum, ut superbiam in humilitatem mutaret. Amen dico vobis, nisi conversi fueritis et efficiamini sicut parvuli, non intrabitis in regnum coelorum. Non praecipitur apostolis, ut aetatem habeant parvulorum, sed ut innocentiam, et quod illi per annos possident, hi possideant per industriam: ut malitia, non sapientia parvuli sint. Sanctus Hieronymus, Commentaria in Matthaeum, Liber III, Caput XVIII Source: Migne PL 25.128a-b

And calling a young boy, He stood him in the midst of them... 1 It is possible that He placed a young boy in their midst simply to question its age and to demonstrate an image of innocence, but it is more certain that He did this to give them an example of humility, namely, that of Himself, who had come not to be served but to serve. 2 Others interpret the boy as the Holy Spirit, whom He put into the hearts of the disciples that they might exchange their pride for humility. Truly I say to you that unless you turn and become like children, you will not enter into the kingdom of heaven. The apostles are not commanded to have the age of little children, but their innocence, and to acquire by their efforts what children have by their age, so that they are children in wickedness not wisdom. Saint Jerome, Commentary on Matthew, Book 3, Chapter 18 1 Mt 18.2 2 Mt 20.28