Mark 10:2-16 (NRSV)
Read Mark 10:2-16 on biblegateway.com
Verse 2Some Pharisees came, and to test him they asked, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?" Verse 3He answered them, "What did Moses command you?" Verse 4They said, "Moses allowed a man to write a certificate of dismissal and to divorce her." Verse 5But Jesus said to them, "Because of your hardness of heart he wrote this commandment for you. Verse 6But from the beginning of creation, 'God made them male and female.' Verse 7'For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, Verse 8and the two shall become one flesh.' So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Verse 9Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate."
Verse 10Then in the house the disciples asked him again about this matter. Verse 11He said to them, "Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her; Verse 12and if she divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery."
Verse 13People were bringing little children to him in order that he might touch them; and the disciples spoke sternly to them. Verse 14But when Jesus saw this, he was indignant and said to them, "Let the little children come to me; do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs. Verse 15Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it." Verse 16And he took them up in his arms, laid his hands on them, and blessed them.
Devotion
Children seem to have an aura of untainted innocence, though psychology tells us that, from an early age, kids learn how to manipulate the world around them. In today’s passage, the disciples challenge Jesus, assuming the Kingdom of God is only for rational adults, not children. Turning the world upside down, Jesus welcomes children and blesses them.
In Myanmar I was confronted with a gut-wrenching problem — human trafficking, or the sex/slave trade. Girls as young as 10 leave home or are sold by their families to men promising honest work in neighboring Thailand, so that they can help support their families. Upon arrival, girls discover work means low-paying jobs Thai people won’t do, while brothels offer more money and beautiful clothes. Called to be Christ to the world, how are we welcoming children and blessing them? Do we see all children as gifts from God no matter how poor or far away? As Jesus tells the disciples, it is as little children that we are to receive the Kingdom of God.
Prayer
Creator of all, you mold each of us into creatures that are fearfully and wonderfully made. As Jesus valued all people no matter what age, gender, status or color, teach us to treasure and respect all of your children. Remind us that people around the globe are our neighbors no matter how far away. Help us to find life-giving ways to live together, for Jesus’ sake. Amen.