Welcome the Child

They went on from there and passed through Galilee. Jesus did not want anyone to know it; for he was teaching his disciples, saying to them, "The Son of Man is to be betrayed into human hands, and they will kill him, and three days after being killed, he will rise again." But they did not understand what he was saying and were afraid to ask him.

Then they came to Capernaum; and when he was in the house he asked them, "What were you arguing about on the way?" But they were silent, for on the way they had argued with one another who was the greatest. He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, "Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all." Then he took a little child and put it among them; and taking it in his arms, he said to them, "Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes not me but the one who sent me."

John said to him, "Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he was not following us." But Jesus said, "Do not stop him; for no one who does a deed of power in my name will be able soon afterward to speak evil of me. Whoever is not against us is for us. For truly I tell you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you bear the name of Christ will by no means lose the reward." Mark 9:30-41 

Welcome the Child

She is the one you ignored

it is his voices which has moved your heart

the least capable and last chosen

will lead you to the promised land/

The one with the stutter will be king

and the one who falls on the field will star

the world is turning round another season

and God is making things up right again.

His skin and language made you afraid

her heritage confused and baffled you

the Creator's capacity is hidden within

and time has come to beckon it forth.

Welcome the child, weak and mild

for fierce love and compassion overflows

welcome the child, special needs and despised

for God's radiance is building within.