It’s a beautiful image: Jesus inviting the children to come forward to be blessed and embraced. May Christ’s example inspire us to bring our kids to the Lord – to encounter the unconditional love of God.
Rebuking the disciples, Jesus calls the children to come near so he can bless them. It’s a powerful image for us as we strive to be a source of Christian faith so our kids can know Jesus and be blessed by him today.
Jesus rebukes the disciples for preventing the children to draw near. It’s a powerful reminder for us: how do we help our children come to the Lord? How do we help them grow in faith, hope and love?
Jesus commands the disciples to let people bring their children to be blessed, and then teaches that we must be like children to enter into the Kingdom of God. May we run to the Lord with eager joy, even as we also do our part to help others encounter the love of Christ.
Why do the innocent suffer? Why is there senseless violence, hate, cruelty and pain? God has granted human souls with the freedom to choose good or evil, and the consequences can be profound. Yet it was for our sins that the Christ child was born, breaking the chains of evil and offering us a chance for grace and mercy. May the death of these innocent children inspire us to hold fast to our faith as we follow the Lord.
This short reading from the Gospel of Matthew reveals a beautiful scene: Jesus blessing the children. May we bring our children to the Lord – in prayer, sacraments, and a holy way of life – so that they can receive the blessing of God’s grace as they grow.
As Jesus welcomes and blesses the children in the Gospel of Mark, we are reminded to foster a world where our children are safe and protected as we recall that we, too, seek the Lord with the tender trust of a child.