There is something really delightful and very challenging about todays picture of jesus embracing little children. And thats what i want to think about for a bit now as we reflect on this very important story from the gospel of mark that we have just heard read to us. Now such children, in the ancient world, had no rights. But other scriptures call the permissibility of divorce into question see malachi 2. However, the disciples were being protective of jesus and they rebuked the people who approached jesus. Mark later says jesus took them up in his arms, suggestive of infants mk 10.
It is otherwise in matthew, in whose account, instead of the touch, there is already introduced here the. The bible christianity origins the new testament the old testament practical tools for christians christian life for teens christian prayers. Christs dispute with the pharisees concerning divorce v. As weve been reading marks gospel these past weeks, it is easy to see how frustrated jesus must have been by the religious leaders who have been unable to. He said to them, let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom. There are frequent mentions in the bible of god testing people exodus 15. Today many people were bringing their children to jesus so that he might touch them. Mark 10 commentary matthew henry commentary on the whole. The worldly gains we have made since childhood can stain our heart. So, he read books that would help him know god but to no avail.
Rick altizer, david altizer, and dan huffman script by. We therefore practice it every day, so that we may develop a deep and genuine love for it, and so that we may grow in the surpassing knowledge of christ. It is lovely to have our friends from berlin with us this. Possibly the disciples thought that the little ones were too young for this kind of attention or that jesus had more important work to do than to spend time with small children. 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. Recall that a childs love surfaces from the purity of a clean heart not that of possessions and bodily desires. It does not appear that they needed bodily cures, nor were they capable of being taught. Mark uses a word paidia that can mean children up to twelve, while luke uses a word brephos that indicates infants lk 18. People were bringing young children for jesus to touch and bless them. In our text we find them in a home in perea east of the jordan river. The main biblical text for jewish positions on divorce is deuteronomy 24. When this event happens, jesus is on his way to jerusalem and he. Other than letting the lord save me, the smartest thing i ever did was marry dottie, who has been my wife for over 26 years.
We are joining jesus and the disciples as a real crunch point in the gospel narrative. By the kingdom of god, is doubtless to be understood the word of god, or rather the grace of christ in the gospel. And they were bringing little children to him, so that he might touch them. Again crowds of people came to him, and as was his custom, he taught them. You can download the text of this sermon as a word document here. Sermons from mark jesus blesses little children 10. Living space saturday of week 7 of ordinary time gospel sacred. Reflection for sunday january 21, feast of the sto.
As the lord finished his comments about marriage, some of the local people began to approach the home with their children seeking the lord to bless these little ones. People were bringing little children to jesus for him to place his hands on them, but the disciples rebuked them. Touch is essential to grow and to sustain life, but it is, so to say, a touchy subject. Otherwise it is not possible to enter into the kingdom mk 10. This is reported both by matthew and luke, only they both omit what we here have, mark 10. Childlike faith, childlike giving a sermon on mark 10. Jesus and his disciples are on their way to jerusalem. From the mere touch on the part of the holy man, who assuredly was also known as a friend of children, they hoped to derive blessing for their children. Mark uses this same word, peirazontes, to speak of satan temptingtesting jesus in the wilderness 1. The unitive thread of several episodes in this part of the gospel of mark is the food, the bread. Share flipboard email print superstockgetty images. My reflections reflection for sunday january 21, feast. I can still remember the feeling of excitement and anticipation i felt getting into the family station wagon. To dismiss each other as if an on and off switch does not mimic gods unconditional love.
Unlike the laws sharply delineated nature, christian love is multidimensional. A test the pharisees who ask jesus about divorce do so to test him. Reflections on the gospel of mark like a childmark 10. For a comprehensive study of the passage, download the study guide pdf download.
He be friended people from his churchs parish yet there still was no development. Share on twitter sunday reflection is a regular feature, looking at the specific readings used in todays mass in catholic parishes around the world. Working preacher is a ministry brought to you by luther seminary. According to buxtorf, children were often brought to the presidents of the synagogue in order that they might pray over them. But when jesus saw this, he became indignant and said to them, let the little children come to me. In our text we find them in a home in perea east of the jordan river across from judea. This entry was posted in gospel of mark, gospel reflection, liturgy resources, prayer resources, scripture, year b and tagged divorce, donal neary sj, gospel reflection for 27th sunday ordinary time, mark 10. Modern retelling of jesus blessing the children found in mark 10.
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