Let the Children Come to Me

The appointed Gospel reading for the Daily Prayer of the Church comes from Luke:

 

People were bringing even infants to him that he might touch them; and when the disciples saw it, they sternly ordered them not to do it. But Jesus called for them and said, ‘Let the little children come to me, and 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.’

 

A certain ruler asked him, ‘Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?’ Jesus said to him, ‘Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. You know the commandments: “You shall not commit adultery; You shall not murder; You shall not steal; You shall not bear false witness; Honor your father and mother.” ’ He replied, ‘I have kept all these since my youth.’ When Jesus heard this, he said to him, ‘There is still one thing lacking. Sell all that you own and distribute the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.’ But when he heard this, he became sad; for he was very rich. Jesus looked at him and said, ‘How hard it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God! Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.’

 

Those who heard it said, ‘Then who can be saved?’ He replied, ‘What is impossible for mortals is possible for God.’

 

Then Peter said, ‘Look, we have left our homes and followed you.’ And he said to them, ‘Truly I tell you, there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, who will not get back very much more in this age, and in the age to come eternal life.’ (Lk. 18:15-30).

 

There is a lot packed into this selection; there are at least 4 different things going on.  Let’s focus on just one: the children.  

First century Jewish men rarely interacted with children, even their own.  For the most part, children were considered to be property with very few rights.  Jesus broke with social norm by dealing with children. Kyle D. Felder, Exploring Christian Ethics: Biblical Foundations for Morality, p. 180 (2006). 

When Jesus tells the adult male disciples, “Let the little children come to me, and do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs,” Jesus is putting the children on equal footing with the adult males. These children who have no voice of their own, who are considered property, are to be just as loved and respected as their fathers.  This would have been radical to the ears of Jesus’ listeners.  What?  Children are on the same human level as adult males?  Then Jesus tells them that the Kingdom belongs to the children, those lowest on the social scale, those who have no voice.  During this last week of the Church year, right after we celebrated the Feast of Christ the King on Sunday, we are reminded that the Kingdom of God belongs to those who have no voice, who are helpless, yet who are made in the likeness and image of God just as the most powerful among us.  That is King Jesus’ kingdom.

 

Let us pray:  Almighty and everlasting God, whose will it is to restore all things in your well-beloved Son, the King of kings and Lord of lords: Mercifully grant that the peoples of the earth, divided and enslaved by sin, may be freed and brought together under his most gracious rule; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

 

THANK YOU TO MICHELLE AND EVERYONE WHO MADE THE SEASIDE SENIORS THANKSGIVING DAY LUNCH A DAY OF LOVE AND FELLOWSHIP.

 

CALENDAR REMINDERS

 

Next Sunday is the start of the Church’s New Year, the start of Advent when we switch to violet (purple).  Fr. Jim Scott will be preside and preach this Sunday.  We will also remember World Wide Aids Day.

 

2015 Calendars are available at the back of the Church throughout the Advent Season.

 

Please remember everyone on our Prayer List.

 

Your servant in Christ,

 

Fr. Chester J. Makowski+

St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church

Galveston, Texas 77550