Children

Wednesday, June 18, 2008 -- Week of Proper 6
Bernard Mizeki, Catechist and Martyr in Rhodesia, 1896

Today's Reading for the Daily Office (Book of Common Prayer, p. 971)
Psalms 119:97-120 (morning) 81, 82 (evening)
Numbers 11:24-33 (34-35)
Romans 1:28 - 2:11
Matthew 18:1-9

The stained glass window over our altar at St. Paul's is an image of a kind and welcoming Jesus with children gathered around him in comfort. It is a comforting image. I often see those who are receiving communion look up at that image with deep intention. I imagine many see themselves coming to the altar as children coming to Jesus with supplication and trust, thankfully receiving his life and blessing.

From our 21st century perspective, children are symbols of innocence and loveliness. We center much of our lives around children.

In Jesus' day, the image of children would have provoked some different associations. The primary characteristic of children is that they are people without power, without economic resources, dependent and without their own progeny. Life in Jesus' day was centered around the elderly. Children, as soon as they were able, were expected to contribute to the upkeep and promotion of the family of the elder. The ancient eye looked toward children in a way less romantic than we do. Children were simply powerless, little people.

Knowing this shifts how we may read this passage. "Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven." We may hear that word as a romantic call to the return of innocence. Jesus' hearers would have heard it as an embrace of powerlessness. "Whoever becomes humble like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me." This would have been a hard and perplexing statement. To become like a child would be to live without power, without economic resources, dependent, and without heirs and descendants, without others who would be responsible to you to look after your interests.

Jesus then goes on to challenge his hearers. They are told to shift their focus and emphasis. They are to take care that their actions never harm or compromise the weak and powerless, the "little ones". Such a challenge throws social conventions upside down. What kind of business would focus entirely on the welfare of the poorest and most vulnerable in the community? What kind of politics would structure its decisions entirely on the interests of the weakest and most needy in the society? Jesus' words challenge familial patriarchy and every other form of privilege and power. It is a radical word.

Woe to you, says Jesus, if you ignore this word and put stumbling blocks before "one of these little ones." To misuse power in such a way that harms the powerless is a woeful crime.

How different might our society be if we followed Jesus' values instead of our own? What if every economic decision was made not out of the profit and market share motive but rather from the perspective of how this will serve the poorest and most vulnerable? What if every political decision were oriented toward the interests of the weakest and most needy? Woe to you, says Jesus, if your decisions are stumbling blocks toward these little ones. Unless you can become powerless like these, "you will never enter the kingdom of heaven," he says. Jesus' words challenge us every time we pray, "thy kingdom come."

Lowell

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About Morning Reflections
Morning Reflections is a brief thought about the scripture readings from the Daily Office of Morning and Evening Prayer according to the practice found in the Book of Common Prayer of the Episcopal Church.

Morning Prayer begins on p. 80 of the Book of Common Prayer.
Evening Prayer begins on p. 117

An online resource for praying the Daily Office is found at www.missionstclare.com
Another form of the office from Phyllis Tickle's "Divine Hours" is available on our partner web site www.ExploreFaith.org at this location -- http://explorefaith.org/prayer/fixed/index.html


The Mission of St. Paul's Episcopal Church
is to explore and celebrate
God's infinite grace, acceptance, and love.

Visit our web site at www.stpaulsfay.org

Our Rule of Life

We aspire to...
worship weekly
pray daily
learn constantly
serve joyfully
live generously.

Lowell Grisham, Rector

St. Paul's Episcopal Church
Fayetteville, Arkansas