When his disciples asked Jesus “who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven,” Jesus tells them that they cannot even enter the kingdom (let alone be the greatest in it) unless they become like a child. Then, to make it concrete, he puts in front of them a flesh-and-blood child. By placing the child in their midst, Jesus incarnates his teaching. Jesus lays aside his own status in reaching out to a child, a symbol of the marginalized within any community. In his reception of the child Jesus models the openness, vulnerability, and humility to which we are invited. Join us on Sunday as Director of Children, Youth & Family Ministry Deacon Bri preaches and reminds us of our calling to welcome the children God puts in front of us, make room for them in daily interaction, give them a place of honor in the assembly, and learn from their example. As we bless them and their backpacks for a new school year, we are reminded to pray for them and pray that we might be like them in our faith.
