First Holy Communion
May 2010
‘Then little children were being brought to him in order that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples spoke sternly to those who brought them; but Jesus said, Let the little children come to me, and do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of heaven belongs. And he laid his hands on them and went on his way.’
‘People were bringing little children to him in order that he might touch them; and the disciples spoke sternly to them. But when Jesus saw this, he was indignant and said to them, Let the little children come to me; do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs. Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it. And he took them up in his arms, laid his hands on them, and blessed them.’
‘People were bringing even infants to him that he might touch them; and when the disciples saw it, they sternly ordered them not to do it. But Jesus called for them and said, Let the little children come to me, and do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs. Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it.’
These are three different accounts of the same incident.
The writers of the three Gospels thought it sufficiently important in their portrayal of what Jesus was like to include it in the Gospels.
We all experience a sense of horror when we read about or have first hand experience of child abuse particularly if it happens at the hands of their parents. We immediately conclude - and rightly so - that there is some mental sickness or imbalance involved.
Discounting fanaticism and sycophancy, a healthy relationship with the Supreme Being; the Creator of heaven and earth, or God if you like, is so important to a balanced and fulfilling life that depriving a child of that opportunity could almost be equated with depriving a child of sufficient food or education.
Just because I personally disapprove of a certain subject, sport, food etc. does not entitle me to arbitrarily deprive my child of these things or opportunities.
As parents we know that our children will not pray or attend church, will not do their homework or even attend school, will not eat healthily or take part in sporting activities etc. without the guidance and even insistence of parents.
So I don’t want Jesus pointing at me indignantly and saying ‘Let the little children come to me; do not stop them.’