Thoughts for the Day

At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, 'Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?' He called a child, whom he put among them, and said, 'Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever becomes humble like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.....

Take care that you do not despise one of these little ones; for, I tell you, in heaven their angels continually see the face of my Father in heaven.'

(Church in Wales Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

2,000 years ago children had a different place in Jewish and Roman culture. To Romans a child was fairly unimportant until they came of age, and had no status or rights. A slave was more valuable since they could be sold for money, and the heir could be supplanted by a father adopting another child or adult as their heir. A father had total control over his children and could inflict any punishment, although not usually murder. This control continued up to and including adulthood, and grandparents could still have control over their children for years. Up to 28% of all children died in infancy, so this might explain many attitudes.

In the Hebrew Scriptures (the Old Testament) sons are mentioned more than daughters, probably because on their marriage (from 12 years onwards) girls would move to live with their in-laws, whereas a son would be expected to support their parents in old-age. So parents without children had no son to support them in later life, and a barren woman was a real liability.

Jesus' attitude is different. Notice he doesn't say the disciples should have faith like a child, but that they need to become like children. He is talking about us giving up the power, the status, and all that we have to become totally dependent on God - in the way a small child is completely dependent on others for everything to keep them alive. Jesus also identifies himself with a small child without any power, saying, those who welcome a child, are in fact welcoming Him. This is real humility!

Lord God,
teach us to become humble;
teach us to rely totally on You;
and show us how to put on one side
all that we think important in the world.
Help us to realise that we have
a responsibility to teach all children about You,
and to recognise that they have
much to teach us about You.
Amen.