"Be as a Child"

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."

When one of our children was seven years old, we had this bedtime conversation. Or maybe I should say, my child preached and I listened.

"Mommy, you know I have been thinkin'."
"Yes?"
"I have been thinkin' about God."
"Yes, that's good."
"I was thinkin', you know God made everything and everybody."
"Yes?" (As you can see, this is not too profound, yet. . .)
"Well I was thinkin' do you know God could have made me a rock?"
(Now he had my attention!)
"Yes, I guess God could have."
"Well, God could have done that, but God didn't. God made me a person, and I can think and do things! God made me a part of our family, and I'm so lucky he did."

"That'll preach someday," I said to myself.

Today we consider what it means to receive God's kingdom like a little child. Even though we delight in children, most of us don't really think we want to BE a child or BE LIKE a child, well, not anymore. . .

In the New Testament, all three synoptic gospels (Matthew, Mark and Luke) tell this same story. So it was obviously important that everyone know Jesus said this. The kingdom belongs to such as these (children), Jesus said.

Now what do you suppose he meant by this? What could it mean for adults to "be like a child" or to "receive the kingdom like a child?"

Innocence? (Well, we can hardly be that anymore)
Ignorance? (I don't think this is where Jesus was headed)
Naivete? (Ditto)

Openness?
Trust?
Acceptance? (I think we are getting warmer here.)

Dependence? (This may be a quality we need to consider.)

Being present in the moment? (This is so hard for adults to do.) Being hopeful for the future? (Many of us have given up on this.)

Spontaneity? (We are taught NOT to be spontaneous!) Joy? (We stifle this.)

To see things with fresh eyes and new perspective? (To recognize signs of God's kingdom all around us, to find God's fingerprints everywhere!)

Tony Campolo once gave a sermon on this passage and this is what he said, "This [spontaneity, joy, trust, openness, dependence, freshness] THIS is what Christianity is all about. It's not about heaven, it's about how Jesus can invade your life and create in you a spontaneous excitement about living. This is why you need to surrender to the Lord." (From "If I Should Wake Before I Die" April 25, 1993)

This is the good news of today's gospel! Be as a child.

Today, will you join me in opening your heart and mind and spirit to the Lord who desires above all else to bless you and love you, to welcome you as one of HIS children, to assuage your doubts and calm your fears, to kindle joy and hope and trust in you so you might share it with others.

(Today we all went to 'story centers' to listen to a scripturally based child's story, with the ears of a child.)