Let the Children Come to Me

In the eyes of a child, pure and bright,

Shines the innocence of heavenly light.

Jesus holds a special bond, so we're told,

With these young hearts, trusting and bold.

Receptivity is key, in faith we must trust,

To our God above, being open is a must.

With humility, trust, and an open heart,

Like a child, in His kingdom, we take part.

Jesus' ministry, a beacon of love,

Inclusive and personal, sent from above.

From the smallest child to the oldest soul,

In His kingdom, each one plays a role.

Valuable are we in the kingdom of God,

Treasured and loved, though we are flawed.

The hand of the Lord, gentle and kind,

Blesses us all, in love we find.

REFLECTION:

"Amen, I say to you, whoever does not accept the Kingdom of God like a child will not enter it.” (Mark 10:15)

Jesus has a special relationship with children because of their innocence and their willingness to trust. Receptivity is key to our relationship with God. We must be willing to receive God’s kingdom with humility, trust, and openness, just like a child. Jesus' ministry is inclusive, personal, and compassionate in nature. Everyone, including children, is valuable in the kingdom of God. The hand of the Lord is upon us all blessing us in our faith journey.

Dear Lord Jesus,

We acknowledge the special relationship You have with children, reflecting their innocence and their willingness to trust. We are reminded of Your words, calling us to be like little children, receptive and open to Your kingdom.

We pray for the grace to receive Your kingdom with humility, trust, and openness, just like a child. Help us to cultivate a childlike faith, full of trust and devoid of skepticism. May we always be receptive to Your word and Your will in our lives.

We thank You for Your inclusive, personal, and compassionate ministry. We are grateful that everyone, including children, is valuable in Your kingdom. Help us to see each other through Your eyes, recognizing the inherent value in each person.

We acknowledge that Your hand is upon us all, blessing us in our faith journey. May we always feel Your presence in our lives, guiding us, protecting us, and blessing us. 

In Your holy name, we pray. Amen.

Pericope:

IV: The Full Revelation of the Mystery

BLESSING OF THE CHILDREN

Mark 10:13-16

Gospel | Mark 10:13-16

Gospel Acclamation

Blessed are you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth; you have revealed to little ones the mysteries of the Kingdom. 

13 People were bringing children to Jesus that he might touch them, but the disciples rebuked them. 14 When Jesus saw this, he became indignant and said to them, “Let the children come to me; do not prevent them, for the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 15 Amen, I say to you, whoever does not accept the Kingdom of God like a child will not enter it.” 16 Then he embraced them and blessed them, placing his hands on them. 

Background:

Mark 10:13-16 is a passage from the New Testament of the Bible, specifically from the Gospel of Mark. This passage is also repeated in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke.

The passage begins with people bringing their little children to Jesus so that He might touch them and bless them. However, the disciples rebuked those who brought the children. They perhaps thought that Jesus had more important things to do than spend His time laying His hands on little children.

When Jesus saw this, He was much displeased and said unto them, “Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein” (Mark 10:14-15). Jesus was angry and offended by the action of His disciples because they were giving the people the false impression that Jesus had no time for insignificant people like little children and His ministry did not include them.

Jesus then took the children up in His arms, put His hands upon them, and blessed them (Mark 10:16). This scene is a primary reason why modern imagery of Jesus commonly has him sitting with children. Many Christians feel that Jesus has a special relationship with children because of their innocence and their willingness to trust.

In summary, Mark 10:13-16 is a powerful passage that underscores the importance of childlike faith, the value of every individual (including children) in the eyes of Jesus, and the openness of the kingdom of God to those who approach it with the trust and dependence of a child.

Learning Lessons:

Mark 10:13-16 offers several important lessons for believers:

Value of Childlike Faith: Jesus emphasizes the importance of having a childlike faith. Children are often used as symbols of innocence and trust. Jesus teaches that to enter the kingdom of God, we must receive it with the same openness and trust as a child.

Inclusivity of Jesus’ Ministry: The disciples initially rebuked the people for bringing children to Jesus, perhaps thinking that His ministry was only for adults or that children were not significant enough. However, Jesus corrected them and showed that His ministry is inclusive. Everyone, including children, is valuable in the kingdom of God.

Importance of Blessings: Jesus took the children in His arms, laid His hands on them, and blessed them. This shows the significance of blessings in our faith journey. It also underscores the personal and compassionate nature of Jesus’ ministry.

Receptivity to the Kingdom of God: Jesus said, “Whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it.” This teaches us that receptivity is key to our relationship with God. We must be willing to receive God’s kingdom with humility, trust, and openness, just like a child.

In summary, Mark 10:13-16 teaches us about the value of childlike faith, the inclusivity of Jesus’ ministry, the importance of blessings, and the need for receptivity in our spiritual journey. (Conversation with Copilot)