Week 39 of the Church year
പെന്തിക്കോസ്തിക്കു ശേഷം പത്താം ഞായർ
The disciples ask Jesus who will be greatest in the kingdom. He answers by calling a small child and standing them in the middle of the group.
The disciples ask who is greatest. Jesus puts a child among them and says unless they become like children they will not enter the kingdom. Whoever welcomes a child welcomes him. He warns against causing little ones to stumble, and says their angels see the Father’s face.
In the middle of the long season after Pentecost, the Church reads Jesus’ teaching on the little ones of his kingdom.
Jesus did not just talk about children. He put one in the middle.
ഈ ഞായറാഴ്ചയുടെ വായനകൾ
Jesus feeds five thousand with five loaves and two fish.
Peter confesses that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God.
God makes the bitter water of Marah sweet: I am the Lord who heals you.
Job prays for his friends, and God restores his fortunes twice over.
Blessed is the one who fears the Lord and gives freely to the poor.
Paul spends two years in Rome, welcoming all and preaching boldly.
Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved; how will they hear without a preacher?
Unless you become like little children; do not despise one of these little ones. This is the Gospel of the day.
Open in five scenesWater at Marah is made sweet, and Job is restored and prays for his friends. The psalm blesses the generous person. Paul says that all who call on the Lord will be saved, and asks how they will hear unless someone is sent.
References follow the official lectionary of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church. Your parish may read them in a different order.
Pick a scene to see what happens in it and what is easy to miss.
The disciples ask: who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? Jesus calls a child and puts the child in the middle of them.
Children had no status in that world. Jesus places the least important person at the centre.
Unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest.
The question was about being greatest. Jesus answers that the first problem is getting in at all.
Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me. But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to stumble would be better drowned with a millstone round his neck.
Jesus identifies himself with the child, as he does with the hungry and the stranger in Matthew 25.
Woe to the world because of stumbling blocks. If your hand or foot or eye causes you to stumble, cut it off. Better to enter life maimed than to be thrown into fire whole.
Jesus turns from those who make others stumble to what makes us stumble ourselves.
Do not despise one of these little ones. Their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father.
Verse 11, “the Son of Man came to save the lost”, is missing from some old manuscripts. It leads into the parable of the lost sheep.
The verse to keep
“നിങ്ങൾ തിരിഞ്ഞു ശിശുക്കളെപ്പോലെ ആയ്വരുന്നില്ല എങ്കിൽ സ്വർഗ്ഗരാജ്യത്തിൽ കടക്കയില്ല എന്നു ഞാൻ സത്യമായിട്ടു നിങ്ങളോടു പറയുന്നു.”and said, “Most certainly I tell you, unless you turn, and become as little children, you will in no way enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.
The childശിശു
Called by Jesus and set in the middle of the disciples.
“—”
The disciplesശിഷ്യന്മാർ
Arguing about rank in the kingdom.
“—”
നടുവിൽ ഒരു ശിശു
The disciples wanted a ranking. Who is greatest? Who gets the best seat when the kingdom comes? Jesus does not give them a list. He calls a child over and puts the child in the middle. In a world where children counted for little, that was a shock.
He says three things about children. Adults must become like them to enter the kingdom: dependent, trusting, unconcerned with rank. Welcoming a child is welcoming Jesus himself. And harming a child, or leading them away from faith, is among the worst things anyone can do.
That last warning should make every parish and family careful. Children must be safe in our churches and homes, and their faith must be protected and nourished. Jesus says their angels see the face of the Father. Whatever we do to the little ones, heaven is watching.
കുടുംബമായി സംസാരിക്കാം
What can adults learn from children about faith?
Two minutes after the audio. Everyone gets a turn, and nobody is interrupted.Adults: ask a child to teach you a prayer or song they know. Children: pray for the grown-ups in your family by name.
Lord Jesus, you set a child in the middle of your disciples. Make us humble and trusting like children, keep every child in our Church safe, and let their angels always see your Father’s face. Amen.
The whole year
Every Sunday of the Church year, season by season: readings, the Gospel and a question for the family.
Sunday 11 of 18 in Pentecost