Suffer the Children.

Despite all the joy they bring, kids are a lot of work. For every adorable baby’s giggle, there are a thousand dirty diapers. For every affectionate toddler’s
hug, there are a thousand angry tantrums. Mothers—who still bear a disproportionate share of the parenting load—know well the discomfort of pregnancy,
the pain of childbirth, and the sheer exhaustion of life with little ones.

The King James Bible gets it right when Jesus tells his disciples, “Suffer the little children to come unto me”!

We can draw at least two important lessons from the Gospel accounts of Jesus’ interaction with children. First, Jesus instructs his followers to become like children, to embrace the simple openness and innocence of childhood. Through such childlike faith, we enter into the kingdom of God.

Today’s Gospel offers a second, and different, lesson. It is not about becoming the child. It is about caring for the child. In serving this little one, we are serving Christ himself. “Whoever receives this child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.” This shifts our focus from the self-centered bliss of childhood to the other-oriented work of “adult-ing.” Nothing draws you out of yourself like welcoming a child into your life. It is unparalleled practice for the work of discipleship, a training program for the kind of selflessness needed to serve all those who are weak, vulnerable, and in need of our care.

Edward P. Hahnenberg. Taken from Give Us This Day.

Edward P. Hahnenberg, PhD, is the author of Theology for Ministry: An Introduction for Lay Ministers and other titles.