Last updated on June 10th, 2021 at 10:28 am<\/p>\n
I find it to be one of the most poignant moments in Scripture; one that I believe has great relevancy for today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jesus tells his disciples…<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Wait. No.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jesus REBUKES his disciples for keeping the children from Him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Then were little children presented to him, that he should impose hands upon them and pray. And the disciples rebuked them. But Jesus said to them: Suffer the little children, and forbid them not to come to me: for the kingdom of heaven is for such. And when he had imposed hands upon them, he departed from thence.”<\/p>St. Matthew, 19: 13-15<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
The scene takes place in the middle of the 19th chapter of St. Matthew’s Gospel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I’m no biblical scholar, but considering that the same Gospel has Jesus beginning his three-year ministry at the middle of chapter 4, it would be safe to assume that Jesus had been with his disciples \u2013 eating, drinking, walking, praying, devil-outcasting \u2013 for quite some time up to that point. And yet, at that point, His closest friends and cohorts seem to be completely oblivious to just how important the child is.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It’s not the first time His closest followers presumed to know what was best for Him. Heck, their intentions may have been pure. “Friends, our Master is quite busy… He has a schedule to keep… we must be on our way…. we promise to bring Him back real soon…” It would almost be akin to today’s, “here’s a signed autographed glossy… now scram!”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But Jesus scolds his disciples when He sees what is going on around Him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Suffer the children”.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Suffer, as in, submit to. Endure. Feel keenly. Put up with. Experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And why? Because Heaven is full of the like-minded ambling up to Him… to touch Him… to converse with Him… to experience Him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In this jagged age, precious is the innocence of children. And it is being savagely ripped from them, and right in front of the eyes of people who truly care for children and their well-being. And the weapon par-excellence being deployed today is COVID-19.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Recently, Boston Children’s Hospital reported a 47% increase \u201cin kids needing to be hospitalized for suicidal ideation or attempts,\u201d<\/em> between July and October 2020 compared to the same period in 2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n