Mark 10:13-16 NRSVue

¹³People were bringing children to him in order that he might touch them, and the disciples spoke sternly to them. ¹⁴But when Jesus saw this, he was indignant and said to them, “Let the children come to me; do not stop them, for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs. ¹⁵Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it.” ¹⁶And he took them up in his arms, laid his hands on them, and blessed them.

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Some thoughts on this scripture

Reflection
/He took children in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands upon them/. Lord, you uttered dire warnings against those who lead little ones astray. That did not mean that you were afraid to touch children, bless them and love them. Children need our attention, and they need to be stroked, in ways that meet their needs, not ours. Save me from the fearfulness that would turn child protection into child rejection.

Reflection
The children were interrupting adult talk, and Jesus welcomed that. He saw what they needed: time and touch. In our heavily sexualised culture, a man may be under suspicion if he takes children up in his arms, lays his hands on them, and blesses them. Lord, guide us gently towards your own tenderness, your sense of what children need.

Reflection
The Gospel urges us to love. This scene shows how Jesus understood that with children. A crowd of them interrupted his preaching, and the apostles were shooing them away. They were noisy, energetic, enjoying life, running instinctively towards someone who also enjoyed it. The apostles spoke sternly to those who brought them: /These kids are not serious. We are here to listen to the Sermon on the Mount and we can't hear him properly with all this noise and commotion./ Jesus intervened, invited the children closer and laid his hands on them. He gave them two precious things that cost no money: time and affection.

Reflection
I am like a child in the arms of Jesus; I want to trust him with my life; I want him to be close to me in joys and sorrows. I ask him for this, and ask it for all who are in my circle of life. Jesus wants closeness to each of us, as we want a close friendship with him. Let the child in me trust, ask, and simply enjoy being love by him.

Reflection
The Gospel urges us to love. This scene shows how Jesus understood that with children. A crowd of them interrupted his preaching, and the apostles were shooing them away. They were noisy, energetic, enjoying life, running instinctively towards someone who also enjoyed it. The apostles spoke sternly to those who brought them: /These kids are not serious. We are here to listen to the Sermon on the Mount and we can't hear him properly with all this noise and commotion./ Jesus intervened, invited the children closer and laid his hands on them. He gave them two precious things that cost no money: time and affection.