Receiving Children

We are taught to receive Jesus as we would a child. This makes us feel good—we think of Mary holding the baby Jesus at Christmas. But, what if that child is going through his or her terrible twos? Can’t we just reject that kid: let the parents take care of him or her?

This is sort of what happened to the disciples.

Jesus says they have to receive others as they receive little children. But, all of a sudden, there appears someone not associated with them and he’s casting out demons in Jesus’s name.

He’s a trouble maker—a “terrible twos” sort of kid. How dare he!

The disciples are not happy and they want Jesus to rebuke this man. They believed the “Jesus movement” belonged to them.

How often do we think the same thing?

Perhaps, we believe that just because we belong to a particular church or denomination we have it right—the others are wrong. Or, if they aren’t wrong, we’re just more correct than them.

But, Jesus doesn’t rebuke this other man. He reminds the disciples that if someone is working in the name of Jesus, then they are an ally—even if the only thing that person does is give you a cup of water just because you’re a Christian.

In other words, Jesus reorients what it means to belong.

Rather than being able to recite creeds, doctrines, and theological ideas, Jesus is emphasizing that to be a Christian means to receive others in love.

Instead of priding ourselves on who we are, we are called to serve and be Christ to others.

And, when we do, somehow we grow closer to Christ because we’ll see God in the face of the one whom we stop to help. 

The Reading

And they came to Capernaum. And when he had come into the household he asked them, “What were you debating on the way?” But they were silent; for on the way they debated with one another who was greater. And sitting down he called out to the twelve and says to them, “If anyone wishes to be first, he shall be the last of all and the servant of all.” And taking a small child he stood him in their midst, and folding the child in his arms he said to them, “Whoever in my name receives one of the little children, like this one, receives me; and whoever receives me receives not me but the one having sent me forth.” John said to him, “Teacher, we saw someone who does not follow us exorcizing demons in your name, and we forbade him, because he was not following us.” But Jesus said, “Do not forbid him, for there is no one who will perform a deed of power in my name who will also be able soon afterward to speak ill of me; For whoever is not against us is for us. For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink in the name, because you belong to the Anointed, amen, I tell you that he most certainly will not lose his reward. (Mark 9:33-41)