Greatness bestowed

It seems to make no sense to view greatness in these terms: receive, learn, partake, obey, imitate, follow. Yet these are the paths to greatness, for Greatness is a person: God, and we cannot therefore take it upon ourselves. Yet this God bestows himself on those who are willing to receive him, and it takes a child's heart to receive on the giver's terms, not in the way the world thinks of what makes for greatness (Gospel today: Matt 18:1-14). And so he teaches: "whoever humbles himself like this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven."

These antiphons from tonight's Evening Prayer are most illuminating, when taken together:
The Lord surrounds his people with his strength.
Unless you acquire the heart of a child, you cannot enter the kingdom of God.

It is by God's wonderful grace that this is penetrating my mind now -- took me long enough! -- and it fills me with such excitement and hope!