Scripture Passage
Matthew 19:13-15
13 Then people brought little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples rebuked them.
14 Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” 15 When he had placed his hands on them, he went on from there.
Sermon Script
Following Jesus is a journey of learning. We learn about who Jesus is and who we are through our relationship with him. This kind of learning doesn’t happen in a classroom. It happens on the ground – in everyday, real-life situations. That kind of learning stays with you and changes you.
For the past two weeks, we reflected on what following Jesus means.
It is to know that Jesus is our Rock.
It is to understand that Jesus loves us.
Today, we come to our final reflection on the month’s theme.
Following Jesus is to see that Jesus welcomes everyone.
Welcoming sounds like a simple concept. It sounds easy to do. We say hello. We greet one another. We even do it during our worship service. We take a moment to say, “Welcome” to one another.
But that is only what welcoming looks like in practice. To welcome another person goes beyond just what we say and do. It has to do with the posture of our hearts.
Welcoming someone means receiving the other person completely with an open and non-judgemental heart. It is recognizing and making the other person feel valued. It is impossible to do that when our hearts are closed and hard. Even when we say “welcome,” it can leave the other person feeling cold.
I don’t see much of this welcoming attitude today. Sadly, we are living in a world that is becoming more and more divided, hostile and violent. People draw firm lines and keep their distance from each other. They don’t see and experience people for who they are. They are busy labeling and categorizing them. Even some of our world leaders are busy fueling the prejudice in people’s hearts.
PREJUDICE – that is our big problem. What is prejudice?
Preconceived opinion that is not based on reason or actual experience.
It is nothing but a biased assumption toward someone or something. If I dislike or hate a person simply based on what I heard from someone else, that is prejudice.
Prejudice is what kills our ability to be open and non-judgemental. It is what keeps our hearts hardened and shut. I see it as the greatest stumbling block to forming genuine and strong human relationships. Many times, we are unaware of our own prejudices.
The disciples themselves were blind to their own prejudice. That is what we see in today’s passage.
Then people brought little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples rebuked them.
Matthew 19:13
They rebuked those who tried bringing little children to Jesus. Not because the disciples had anything personal against them. It was because that was how children were seen at the time.
In the ancient world, children were thought to hold the lowest status in society. That was the norm. The disciples accepted this norm, without giving it much thought. They had a certain prejudice towards children because of it.
Jesus, however, did not follow the norm. He did not blindly adopt the prejudice of the world he lived in. In contrast to the disciples, he challenged this norm in front of everyone who was there—
Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”
Matthew 19:14
Rather than turning away the children, Jesus welcomed them. He embraced them with an open and non-judgemental heart. He laid his hands on them to pray for them and bless them. He made them feel valued and special, like a human being.
Jesus didn’t welcome just the children. He welcomed those who were outcast, rejected, and lonely. He sat and ate with the sinners, healed the lepers, and empowered the women. He welcomed everyone.
Jesus knew how to welcome others because he didn’t see them the way the world looked at them. He did not see them according to their labels. He did not form his opinions on them based on what he heard or what he saw on the outside. Jesus saw the IMAGE OF GOD in every person. He recognized something precious, special, and divine in others. In children, he saw a sense of purity and simplicity. He saw them as blessed for that reason, as he had taught earlier—
Blessed are the pure in heart,
Matthew 5:8
for they will see God.
We all have our own prejudices. But when we learn how to see others as those created beautifully in the image of God, we will be able to overcome our prejudices and welcome them with a genuine and loving heart.
Human beings are the most unique and interesting creatures. There is nothing else like them. They are complex, contradictory, difficult, puzzling, and wonderful – all at the same time.
Yet we live in a world that tries to reduce people into ideas and images. We encounter one another more through our screens than actually in-person. We only know how to relate to others as ideas and opinions, rather than as real people. The world is increasingly becoming unreal, unkind, and inhuman.
In that sense, seeing how Jesus welcomes people is so important for us. Just as it was important for the disciples. As followers of Jesus, we are called to welcome one another as Christ welcomed us.
Welcome one another, therefore, just as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.
Romans 15:7
Welcoming is not just something ‘nice’ we do as a social etiquette. Welcoming is a spiritual practice that restores human dignity. It runs against the current of the world that tramples on people. It breaks down barriers and forms new connections. It fosters deeper understanding and appreciation of others. It puts all prejudice, hostility, and hatred to death. Welcoming is a bold and courageous action.
Last Tuesday, a prayer service was held at Washington’s National Cathedral. Among those in attendance were the new President and Vice-President of the United States. The prayer service was held just the day after the President issued orders that threatened the well-being of undocumented immigrants and children of minority groups.
The Episcopal Bishop, the Right Rev. Mariann Edgar Budde, delivered the sermon. But she did not give a message that pleased the President. Gently, she challenged the President – the most powerful person in the room – in front of everyone with these words:
I ask you to have mercy, Mr. President, on those in our communities whose children fear that their parents will be taken away. And that you help those who are fleeing war zones and persecution in their own lands to find compassion and welcome here. Our God teaches us that we are to be merciful to the stranger, for we were all once strangers in this land.
The Right Rev. Mariann Edgar Budde
I admire the Bishop’s courage and bravery. I’m sure it wasn’t easy to do that. She reminded the President what it means to welcome others. In an interview she did the following day, she explained—
My responsibility yesterday morning was to reflect, to pray with the nation for unity. As I was pondering what are the foundations of unity, I wanted to emphasize respecting the honour and dignity of every human being; basic honesty, and humility.
Welcome and restore the image of God in each person as Jesus did. To do that is to honour and glorify God who made them. Jesus taught us that clearly—
“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’
Matthew 25:34-40
Don’t be a follower of this world. Be a follower of Christ. Fight for goodness and justice.
Following Jesus, ultimately, is about BEING A HUMAN BEING.
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