I tell you, unless a man receives the Kingdom of God like a child, he will not enter it at all."

And just then a man in the crowd shouted out: "Teacher, I entreat you to look at my son, for he is my only child;

And then said to them: "Any one who, for the sake of my Name, welcomes even this little child is welcoming me; and any one who welcomes me is welcoming him who sent me as his Messenger. For whoever is lowliest among you all--that man is great."

And they made signs to the child's father, to find out what he wished the child to be called.

When the period of purification of mother and child, enjoined by the Law of Moses, came to an end, his parents took the child up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord,

Simeon gave them his blessing, and said to Mary, the child's mother: "This child is appointed to be the cause of the fall and rise of many in Israel, and to be a sign much spoken against--