St Nicholas

Joel 2.23-32

Palm 65 - 2

Timothy 4.6-8, 16-18

Gospel according to Luke 18.15-30

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Fr Ron's Reflection on the Gospel Luke 18.15-30

 

Our Gospel reading from the Lectionary combines two seemingly unrelated passages, both in their own right very well known. Luke 18:15-17 “Jesus blesses little children” and Luke 18: 18-30 “The rich young ruler”.

 

The problem with passages from scripture that are so well known is that we can miss the power they have to change our perception of how we think things should be in our world. Jesus blessing the children is a case in piont. Even the disciples are having trouble realising that literally everybody has access to the Kingdom, even those on the margins of society.

 

They do wrong then, when like ‘minders’ they shew away people who bring along their infants for Jesus to touch. It is to “such as these” that the Kingdom of God belongs. Jesus makes a further point: whoever does not receive the Kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it. The point is that a child has no capacity to earn or pay for what it needs. A child receives everything as pure gift, it has nothing to give in response, except affection and love. Such is the case with the Kingdom. God’s unmerited, an earnable gift, calls simply for a response of grateful love. Jesus’ welcome of the children and they being receptive to him is the perfect welcome extend it to all in the hospitality of God.

 

Blessings, Fr Ron.