People were bringing children to Jesus that he might touch them,
but the disciples rebuked them.
The disciples probably assumed that Jesus had better things to do. He himself was the most important person in their lives. Should he not, therefore, spend his time was others who were important, significant, or of great account in the eyes of the world? Implicitly, the disciples might still have imagined that they themselves were permitted to be in the presence of Jesus because they were somehow qualified for it, that there was something intrinsic to them that made them important enough to be at the core of the Jesus movement. However they thought about it, the response of Jesus could have done nothing less than turn the preconceptions upside down.
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.
The disciples knew that the whole point of the message of Jesus was the proclamation of the Kingdom of God. But if that Kingdom was to compete on equal footing with the kingdoms of the earth wouldn't it need, primarily, the strong, the smart, and those of great means or ability? Wasn't Jesus proceeding to select followers based on their worth? How else, after all, could a Kingdom have any impact on the earth?
Amen, I say to you,
whoever does not accept the Kingdom of God like a child
will not enter it.
Jesus explained that it was not on the basis of merit that one would enter the Kingdom. It was not a typical job interview where all of the bullet points on a resume were weighed against those of other candidates to select the ones who appeared best. It was precisely the opposite of this. Those who would come without pretense, even being carried to Jesus by the help of others, those with no accomplishments of their own about which they could boast, were the ones on whom Jesus would bestow the Kingdom. The disciples themselves were not first in this line according to this logic, still struggling as they were for supremacy in the group, still looking for something about themselves about which they could boast, that could justify their desired preeminence.
Then he embraced the children and blessed them,
placing his hands on them.
Jesus welcoming the little children was an act that could immediately convict those with prideful thoughts. But that very conviction was also an invitation of a different an easier way to come to Jesus, one which need not be earned, that was based entirely on the love of Jesus himself.
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls (see Matthew 11:28-29).
Coming to Jesus as a child is the only way that our own prayers will become the fervent prayers of righteous people that James described as powerful. Jesus will not grant our prayers simply because we think we deserve him to do so. In fact, our sense of entitlement is an obstacle. On some level we even know better than to imagine that God is obliged to do what we desire. Our source of confidence must shift from ourselves to Jesus himself. This will not make us less willing to pray, but more, and in more circumstances. Not only will we pray when we want something. We will pray in times of need and in times of thanks and we ask for blessings both physical and spiritual.
Is anyone among you suffering?
He should pray.
Is anyone in good spirits?
He should sing a song of praise.
Sacraments like Reconciliation and Anointing of the Sick are too egalitarian for our egos to readily accept. It is actually difficult to put as much stock in them as the impressive healing ministry of this or that traveling preacher. But for the childlike the Church stands ready to embrace the world with the arms of Jesus himself.
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