Matthew 19:13-15 | Deuteronomy 11:18-21 | Gospels in Lent Track: John 1-2
It almost does this passage a disservice to put the words on things meant for children. You know…you’ve seen it: Let the little children come emblazoned in color on nursery walls or above the children’s Sunday School classroom doorway. Or the words are featured prominently in the infant baptismal liturgy. It’s not that it’s wrong for these words to show up in these places. Just that they shouldn’t be the only places.
Twice now we’ve received words about the kingdom and kids from Jesus. His intent isn’t simply to make room for children in the Church. He means to tell all of us what we should be like. But we really have a way of complicating things, of making the Church and its institution so rigid such that little things can’t even get through the cracks.
But what’s complicated about the joy or the sadness of a child? Not much. Most people know what to do about the joy or sadness of a child by receiving it and holding it and letting it seep into our bodies as we share a hug.
Such things belong to the kingdom.
Matthew 19:13-15
Some people brought children to Jesus so that he would place his hands on them and pray. But the disciples scolded them. “Allow the children to come to me,” Jesus said. “Don’t forbid them, because the kingdom of heaven belongs to people like these children.” Then he blessed the children and went away from there.
Deuteronomy 11:18-21
Place these words I’m speaking on your heart and in your very being. Tie them on your hand as a sign. They should be on your forehead as a symbol. Teach them to your children, by talking about them when you are sitting around your house and when you are out and about, when you are lying down and when you are getting up. Write them on your house’s doorframes and on your city’s gates. Do all that so your days and your children’s days on the fertile land the Lord swore to give to your ancestors are many—indeed, as many as the number of days that the sky’s been over the earth!
Prayer
God,
Make me like a child. I don’t mean the whiny, fussy, spoiled ones. I’ve got that part covered. I mean make me like a child in his simplicity. Make me like a child in her innocence. Ready to take on the world. Ready to love and to receive it. Ready to enjoy the beautiful simplicities of life, be it an ice cream cone, a bug, or a game. Always wanting to learn. Always open to new ideas, new people, new understandings.
And make me like the Jesus who welcomes such people and things.
By his Spirit and in his name,
Amen.