Let Them Come

People were bringing little children to him in order that he might touch them; and the disciples spoke sternly to them. But when Jesus saw this, he was indignant and said to them, “Let the little children come to me; do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs. Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it.” And he took them up in his arms, laid his hands on them, and blessed them. Mark 10:13-16

There is too much daily conversation about border security and illegal immigrants to not wonder where God is in all of this. Who should we keep out? Many of our present leaders are the  offspring of once illegal immigrants. We fear those we do not understand, yet many of us were them. And we were all children once, held and cherished, or left and neglected. We bear the marks of how our parents, teachers and leaders have treated us. Can we be those who welcome instead of shun, embrace instead of imprison?

Jesus' disciples were protecting him because of the crush of the crowd, keeping the little children away from him. They thought they were doing right in protecting him. Jesus, though, always rejected protection and invited interaction and relationship. God invites us to be people or radical welcome, making room at the table and building bigger tables so all can share. There is always enough when we welcome and share.

Today, I ask God to help me be welcoming and open. May we welcome the messy and the different, the confusing and those who we don't understand.