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Daily Devotional • February 4

Jean McCurdy Meade
To Be Like Children
 
A Reading from Mark 10: 13-22

13 People were bringing little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them, but the disciples rebuked them. 14 When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 15 Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” 16 And he took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them.

17 As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. “Good teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

18 “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. 19 You know the commandments: ‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, you shall not defraud, honor your father and mother.’”

20 “Teacher,” he declared, “all these I have kept since I was a boy.”

21 Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

22 At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth.
Meditation

Jesus shows us, just like his first disciples, that it is not who you are, how old you are, or how powerful or rich you are that merits his blessing and allows you to enter his kingdom. As people start bringing their children to Jesus to be blessed, his disciples seem to think that their master is busy with people who matter and that the children are bothering him and keeping Jesus from his mission. But Jesus tells his disciples not to hinder the little children from coming to him, lays his hands upon them, and blesses them, thereby assuring them, their parents, and his doubting disciples that one’s age has nothing to do with entering the kingdom of God which he is proclaiming.

And then he goes a step farther. He says that it is necessary to be like a child to enter that kingdom. The main quality Jesus is attributing to them is powerlessness. Children know they are dependent on their parents; they have no goods or services to offer. They have no legal status, no advanced education or training, and cannot lay claim to power or status in their community. How can any adult return to that state of innocence and humility that children have? 

Who may enter the kingdom? A man kneels before him and asks: what must I do to inherit eternal life? Jesus calls him to be one of his disciples. This is the only instance in Mark’s gospel where Jesus is said to love someone or that he calls someone to be a disciple who refuses. How sad that that man rejects that love because of what made him powerful, his great possessions. Is anything worth turning our back on Jesus’ invitation? It is very hard to be like a child again when faced with such love, forgiveness, and acceptance; we adults usually want to think we are worthy. May our Saviour soften our hearts and extend his call yet again.

The Rev. Dr. Jean McCurdy Meade is a retired priest of the Diocese of Louisiana, formerly the rector of Mount Olivet Church, New Orleans.
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