Mark 10:2-16 (NRSV)
Read Mark 10:2-16 on biblegateway.com
Verse 2Some Pharisees came, and to test him they asked, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?" Verse 3He answered them, "What did Moses command you?" Verse 4They said, "Moses allowed a man to write a certificate of dismissal and to divorce her." Verse 5But Jesus said to them, "Because of your hardness of heart he wrote this commandment for you. Verse 6But from the beginning of creation, 'God made them male and female.' Verse 7'For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, Verse 8and the two shall become one flesh.' So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Verse 9Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate."
Verse 10Then in the house the disciples asked him again about this matter. Verse 11He said to them, "Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her; Verse 12and if she divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery."
Verse 13People were bringing little children to him in order that he might touch them; and the disciples spoke sternly to them. Verse 14But 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. Verse 15Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it." Verse 16And he took them up in his arms, laid his hands on them, and blessed them.
Devotion
Most of us have probably heard or even pronounced the old saying, “Children should be seen and not heard.” Even in Jesus’ day children and women were often seen as powerless and outside range of God’s blessing purpose. In our story even the disciples tried to keep the little children away from Jesus. But Jesus welcomes the children and claims that it is just for such as these, the humble and powerless, that the kingdom of God is waiting.
When his parents suddenly died, Enrico—a special needs child lovingly called Ricky by some of the congregation—was embraced and welcomed. When Enrico’s outbursts threatened to be disruptive during the sermon, a grandmother or two would go to sit near him and speak kindly and softly with him.
What does it mean for us to ponder Jesus’ invitation to welcome and receive the little ones, and, even when it sometimes makes us uncomfortable, to see God’s invitation to grow and enrich our communities of faith?
Prayer
O God of community and family, use us to embrace and welcome those the world ignores or shuns. Help us to receive your realm as a little child. Amen.
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