Let the Little Children 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

The sweetness of this passage, the image of Jesus embracing little children, is one that is posted in churches and Sunday Schools everywhere. Unfortunately, it has also been used as the reason to take children from parents, as our federal government did with our Native children. "Kill the Indian, save the man" was the slogan for a broad network of boarding schools, which were managed by churches working with the government. Churches and governments have tried to fix "issues" by changing the children. In truth, Jesus' words were for the adults and for us. Be childlike, full of wonder, messy and open and vulnerable. Children don't impose programs and changes on others, instead, they embrace those who are in their midst, they play and imagine a better place and sing and dance all day long. May we be childlike today, open and full of wonder, so Jesus can dwell with us.

Wondrous Creator, author of new life

you decorate our world with wonders

sweet songs, birds in flight, roaring oceans

and the soft breathing of a sleeping child.

We age and forget how to open our arms

we shelter in place fearing the worst

we fix our problems by hurting others

and despair at the mess we have made.

Free us Lord, from the need to control

instead help us be full of great wonder

let us live we hope and curiosity

so that we might know your loving embrace. Amen.