The Gospel of Mark 10:2-16
Some Pharisees came, and to test Jesus they asked, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?” He answered them, “What did Moses command you?” They said, “Moses allowed a man to write a certificate of dismissal and to divorce her.” But Jesus said to them, “Because of your hardness of heart he wrote this commandment for you. But from the beginning of creation, ‘God made them male and female.’ ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.”
Then in the house the disciples asked him again about this matter. He said to them, “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her; and if she divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery.”
People were bringing little children to him in order that he might touch them; and the disciples spoke sternly to them. But when Jesus saw this, he was indignant and said to them, “Let the little children come to me; do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs. Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it.” And he took them up in his arms, laid his hands on them, and blessed them.
Let Us Pray: Lord Jesus, You welcomed the children with open arms and blessed them. Help us to embrace the innocence and faith of a child. Grant us the humility to trust in Your loving plan for our lives. Guide us to nurture and protect the children in our communities, that they may grow in faith and love. Bless our families and help us to reflect Your kindness and compassion in all that we do. Amen.
This passage from Mark seems a little disjointed. It starts with a discussion about divorce and ends with a discussion about entering God’s kingdom like little children. While they seem to be disconnected, they really are connected. Jesus is trying to tell us that we are to show concern for the less fortunate in society. In Jesus’ time, women and children were among the least fortunate in society. They had very few rights. In fact, women were seen as the property of their husbands. A man could divorce his wife for seemingly petty reasons such as burning the meat, not keeping the home clean or getting older. All he had to do under the Law of Moses was to write a bill of divorce, give it to the woman and send her on her way. Contrary to the times, Jesus had a special fondness for the vulnerable members of society. That is why he had the debate with the Pharisees in the first part of this passage from Mark’s Gospel. One of God’s intentions for marriage is protection of the vulnerable, namely, women and children, from divorce caused by any reason. Jesus placed women, children and all vulnerable people on an equal footing with the rest of society. By doing so, he showed them that God’s love and God’s kingdom are for everyone. All we have to do is believe in Jesus and accept him in faith. To tie the lesson together we see people bring children to Jesus, but the disciples rebuke them. Jesus, however, welcomes the children, saying that the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. He emphasizes the importance of receiving the kingdom of God with the humility and openness of a child. This part of the passage teaches us about the value of innocence, trust, and humility in our faith journey.
We must be like children in our service to God. We must trust and obey Him without fail. We must live as children of God should live. In Jesus’ time, children were seen as nothings until they were old enough to be useful. Jesus appreciated and valued them for who they were and what they brought as children.
Let us pray a Prayer for World Communion Sunday:
JESUS PRAYED that we might be one. One in spirit, One in mission In union and communion with each other and with you. Today, God, we confess fumbling, and failures in accomplishing unity, as we set aside yet another day to remind ourselves of the task. On this World Communion Sunday, give us eyes to recognize your reflection in the eyes of Christians everywhere. Give us a mind to accept and celebrate our differences. Give us a heart big enough to love your children everywhere. We thank you for setting a table with space enough for us all! Redeemer God, as we gather in worship on this World Communion Sunday, we ask that you send your Holy Spirit to fall afresh on us. We pray for your Spirit to awaken new hope in us. Grant us the vision to see the coming of your kingdom. Help us to celebrate the glimpses of grace that you have given to each of us. Knit our hearts together in worship and communion so that we know we do not struggle alone in working for your peace and justice. We pray this in the name of your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.
World Communion Sunday World Communion Sunday takes place on October 06, 2024. World Communion Sunday is a celebration observed by many Christian denominations, taking place on the first Sunday of every October, that promotes Christian unity and ecumenical cooperation. The tradition originated in the Shadyside Presbyterian Church in 1933, was adopted throughout the US Presbyterian Church in 1936, and subsequently spread to other denominations. In 1940, the Federal Council of Churches (now the National Council of Churches), led by Jesse Moren Bader, endorsed World Communion Sunday and began to promote it to Christian churches worldwide. (material from: Wikipedia)
Reflections by Bob 