Let the Little Children Come to Me

Then little children were being brought to Jesus in order that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples spoke sternly to those who brought them; 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.” And he laid his hands on them and went on his way.
Then someone came to him and said, “Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?” And he said to him, “Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. If you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments.” He said to him, “Which ones?” And Jesus said, “You shall not murder; You shall not commit adultery; You shall not steal; You shall not bear false witness; Honor your father and mother; also, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” The young man said to him, “I have kept all these; what do I still lack?” Jesus said to him, “If you wish to be perfect, go, sell your possessions, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.” When the young man heard this word, he went away grieving, for he had many possessions. Matthew 19:13-22 

Let the Little Children Come to Me

Dear God who calls us Your children
we have done great damage to innocents
who we stole away from their families
substituting our ways for your way of love.

Too often we see a poor or needy child
the ones who don't look and act like ours
as a problem to correct, a life to rescue
ill-bred and ignorant of the Gospel's truth.

You, Lord, love them and know them by name
creating each people and language with joy
yet we are so nearsighted and so very afraid
we would damage the children and destroy families.

Heal of from our hubris and our ignorance, Lord
help us to see the gifts each child and family bring
let us be grateful for the full diversity of neighbors
learning love anew as strangers become friends. Amen.