“Baby Yoda” reminds us that we must all “become like children”

In the Empire Strikes Back, Luke is in the midst of his Jedi training at the feet of master Yoda, but nearly gives up because he believed the X-Wing was “too big.”

Yoda, as his spiritual guide, is quick to retort, “Size matters not. Look at me. Judge me by my size, do you? Hmm? Hmm. And well you should not. For my ally is the Force, and a powerful ally it is.”

Then Yoda proceeds to put Luke to shame by effortlessly moving the X-Wing out of the lake.

Yoda is by far one of the most “powerful” creatures in the Star Wars universe, and yet, he is also the smallest.

This profound lesson is one that rings true, in a particular way, with one of the most central teachings of Jesus Christ.

At that time the disciples approached Jesus and said, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” He called a child over, placed it in their midst, and said, “Amen, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever receives one child such as this in my name receives me.

(Matthew 18:1-5)

When God became incarnate, he did not come as a powerful warrior, but as a little child.

St. Augustine further reflections on this paradox.

God chose the weak things of this world to disconcert the strong; and God chose the foolish things of this world to disconcert the wise; and God chose the low-born things of this world and the things that are not (that is, that are not counted), that the things which are might be rendered vain (1 Cor 1:27-28). For He had come to teach humility and overturn pride…He chose to be born of that woman who had been betrothed to a carpenter. So He did not choose important family connections, or this world’s aristocracies would have taken it as justifying their pride…So He chose the weak, the poor, the unlearned; not that He left out the strong, the rich, the wise, the wellborn; but if He chose them first they would imagine they were chosen for their wealth, for their property, for their family connections, and puffed up about these things they would not have received the healthy condition of humility.

So often we think that it will take sheer force of power to change the world, but most often all it takes is someone who is small and insignifcant to change people’s hearts.

Just look at Mother Teresa as an example.

She was a tiny, old nun, whose life continues to touch the hearts of all. Her revolution of love went beyond Calcutta and is a driving force behind many people’s faith.

Interestingly, this spiritual theme was reiterated with the popular Star Wars series, The Mandalorian.

The central plot revolves around a bounty for “The Child,” who is of the same species as Yoda.

The Mandalorian is intrigued by this creature and touched by its innocence. Repeatedly in the first season “The Child” comes to the rescue and saves the Mandalorian through its innate connection to the Force.

Once again, we reflect on the innocence of children and how they are much closer to God than we realize. While we struggle to pray to God, children have no obstacles and pray honestly with a beautiful filial trust. They have no reason to doubt God and his power and are not afraid of intimacy with him.

This new chapter in the Star Wars saga reminds me of another passage from scripture.

A little child shall lead them.

Isaiah 11:6

Let us never forget this profound spiritual truth that is at the heart of the Gospel and has even found its way into the world of Star Wars.