Jesus blesses little children
Matthew 19:13-15
We are jumping over Matthew 19:1-12 which delas with divorce. And yes, I am avoiding that conversation. But I do note that often divorce involves children and so the theme about children continues through to the passage before us. In fact, that this passage abut Jesus care for children comes right after a conversation about divorce I find poignant pointing to Jesus care for all children including the children of divorce.
13 Then little children were being brought to him in order that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples spoke sternly to those who brought them; 14 but Jesus said, ‘Let the little children come to me, and do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of heaven belongs.’ 15 And he laid his hands on them and went on his way.
One of the stained-glass windows at St. Andrew’s, Fergus depicts this story.
Parents and grandparents wanted to have their children blessed by Jesus. But the disciples had decided that Jesus was too busy to deal with children. Children are unimportant – in our world they don’t vote, they can’t spend money, they don’t make important decisions. Jesus should spend his time with important people.
The disciples seem to have forgotten the words of Jesus in Matt. 18:5: “Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.” The Jesus who invited his followers to welcome children in his name, would certainly want welcome children himself.
Jesus goes further and reminds the disciples that the kingdom of heaven belongs to children and to those who are child-like. Child-like in their humility and trust. In offering blessing to the children, Jesus serves them, serves the least and the lowly, the overlooked and the uncounted.
This passage is a fitting bookend to the series of texts in which Jesus challenges adults to take children seriously. Adults who take children seriously welcome children and emulate children in humility and trust. It is such as these that Jesus takes in his arms of love and blesses.
PRAYER:
O Lord, we rejoice that you take little ones into your arms. Teach us to be like children that we might know the joy of being surrounded by your arms of love. Teach us to welcome little ones that they too might know your love for them. In Jesus’ name. Amen.