Welcoming the Little Ones

 In today’s Gospel,  Jesus  brings the child to center stage and instructs his disciples: ‘’Anyone who welcomes one of these little children in my name, welcomes me and anyone who welcomes me welcomes not me but the one who sent me.’’ In this instance Jesus doesn’t ask his disciples to become like children; he asks his disciples to welcome. Were the disciples having a problem about welcoming littleness?

You remember that in last week’s Gospel Jesus spoke of himself through the figure of the Son of Man who had to suffer and be rejected and be put to death. Following that prediction of the passion, Jesus invited those who would follow him to take up their crosses. In this week’s Gospel Jesus is now travelling secretly through Galilee, taking time to instruct his disciples about how the Son of Man will be delivered into the hands of men and be put to death. The ministry in Galilee is now over; the road that leads to Jerusalem beckons. Jesus is seen to be anxious that his disciples understand the meaning of what lies ahead.

Mark tells us how the disciples respond to this second prediction of the passion: ‘’They did not understand what he said, and they were afraid to ask him.” The disciples cannot comprehend the future of powerlessness that Jesus maps out for himself. They are afraid to ask him, perhaps because their worst suspicions will be confirmed. Perhaps Jesus does mean exactly what he says, perhaps he will face the coming terror without resorting to power tactics. The disciples cannot face the scenario, so they start their own discussion group about power and prestige.

When the group arrives in Capernaum, Jesus asks them what they have been arguing about on the way. It didn’t take long for their seminar on power to grow into an argument about which of them was the greatest. To the question of Jesus, the disciples respond with the silence of shame. It is in that silence that Jesus takes a little child, sets him in front of them, puts his arms around the child, and challenges his disciples to accept the little one. When they can welcome that little child, they can welcome the real Jesus. 

Jesus compares himself to the little child, the one who cannot resort to power tactics when threatened or maltreated. Jesus’ protection is his Father; his trust is placed in the God who will ensure his protection. When suffering comes, Jesus refuses to abandon trust in the Father. That trust makes him vulnerable, like a little child, but unless the disciples can come to welcome that vulnerability, they will never understand the way of Jesus.

Jesus offers a permanent challenge to his followers to welcome the powerless, to take to heart the weakest members of the community. He places himself in their company. Special hospitality should be offered to those from whom we can benefit the least. Their vulnerability is something that Jesus not only shares but values.

As he takes the road to Jerusalem, his own vulnerability will expose him to those who lie in wait. There will be people keen to explore his gentleness and put his endurance to the test. In drawing his own followers away from looking to power and prestige for models of discipleship, Jesus invites them to a new openness to the Father. No earthly power will save Jesus from death in Jerusalem; only his Father can save him from being left for dead. That is what the Father does. That is how the Father welcomes the trust of the little one.