Let the children come to me – (Mk 10:13-16)
Jesus says today: " “Let the children come to me; do not prevent them." This passage is extremely rich in content and importance. I cannot even touch on all the topics that come to my mind here. I would like to focus on a small fragment - on a few interesting, perhaps not the most important observations. At the same time, I encourage, especially parents, to reflect further on this topic!
Note that Jesus does not say to his disciples: bring the children to me. Nor does he say: come always with your children to meet me. Moreover, he does not say: your children still have a lot to learn, they must improve themselves in order to deserve the kingdom of God. Jesus says that the children are to come, and the adults are not to prevent. What a beautiful picture. Children are to come! This has to be their way, their following, their desire… it must be their Jesus. For me and for you as a parent, this is a concrete indication. We cannot force our children to God - "raise them to be believers." The best we can do is not to disturb, which is to let them build their own relationship with God and show them as much as possible our relationship with Him. What, if they do not want to? Well - if they do not want to, even if we insist and force it, it will not help.
But it is not everything. For this to be possible, you as parent have to start by allowing your children to come to you. Let them come when they want it and need it. And not when you are out of work, when your mobile phone runs out of interesting things to read, when you are well rested and in a good mood. No. When they need it – You must be there for them. If the children cannot trust you, enough to know that they are always welcome, that they will always see your open arms ... then how will they trust a God who cannot be seen?
Jesus speaks many times about God who is the Father. In this way, he places a great responsibility in the parents' hands, because it is through their attitude that the children form the first image of God. Please, read today's words: "let the children come to me" not only in the context of Jesus, but also in the context of yourself. That is why we must let the children come to us more often. Not to pull them towards us when we feel like it - when it is going to be fun. Do not push them away when you are fed up. But let the children come, do not prevent (instead of shouting “don't disturb me!”). Let them come to you at any age.
These words, of course, relate primarily to the parental perspective - to fathers and mothers. However, I believe that the same relationship of being open to the child and its needs should apply to a much larger group of people. Grandparents, siblings, teachers, guardians, educators ... all people who have a real influence on children (theirs or not).
I know that this story from the Gospel in various dimensions is also happening in the lives of many of you. Children are present and with their presence they bring a lot of joy and love, but also toil, fatigue and sometimes suffering. Jesus comes today to say that He is with us in all of this. He is especially with parents and educators in our failures and mistakes. In difficult times - when you lack strength when you do not know what to do. Then He says - you can come to me with it, because after all, you are all children of God.
Until Tomorrow
fr. george