And Jesus Blessed Them

Mark 10:13-16

 Last week in my sermon (the one spoken on Sunday morning, not written on Sunday night) I said in half jest, that I was either going to be a preacher or a politician, but that is not entirely true. My first major in college was electrical and electronic engineering, and then in the summer, I was a camp counselor (not church camp) and realized I liked working with kids and youth too much not to have them in my career and life. I switched to math education. I then started getting involved with a youth group at First Congregational church in Fargo and like helping youth with their problems so then was going to be a school counselor. Realized that school counselors administer the standardized tests and no fun, so was going to be a youth minister, because I could run the gambit of having fun, developing friendships, helping with problems, and teaching them about God, the wideness of the universe, and and love. There was a brief flirtation with politics in hopes of making a difference in the world, but again, not going to be working with youth a lot and my dad told me there is plenty of politics to be found inside the church.

I came across a social media posting that asked the question, "What do you think kids need most these days?" In other words they were asking, "What is their biggest problem?" or "Why aren't they as good as we were when we were kids?" Most wrote they need to get jobs, steady, get off drugs, get off social media, parents who will discipline them, etc. etc. etc. I read a quotation written that went something like this, "The youth of today are so lazy and ignorant and unmotivated that I dare say the world will not survive." It was written (better of course) by Shakespeare. I responded what they need most is 'unconditional love'. I might have gotten that from today's story.

Of course, divorce is nothing new. When I was in college working on my major on child development and family science, a professor told us that the average life of a marriage in 1800 was 7 years, because of the shorter life spans, women dying in child birth and men dying in wars and farm accidents. The average life span of a marriage in 1980 was also 7 years. This was due to a great increase in divorce as we were, and are, living longer. But this summer, a friend noted that the average life span was now 8 years on average, so we are doing better and divorces are decreasing and have been for quite some time. 

But back in Jesus' day, the Pharisees were always trying to test Jesus, as were other Jewish sects or denominations and argued amongst themselves which translations of the scriptures and the laws were best to follow and practice. What's your view on this subject? Does it agree with us? Not that they wanted to learn anything, they just wanted to make sure everyone knew where they stood and tried to get everyone to agree with them. You'll notice that Jesus responds to the question with a question. With over 300 questions asked to him in the 4 gospels, he only directly answers about 20-30 of them. Often Jesus responds, "What do you read?" or "What do you think?" So he listens to their answer, calls them out that God gave them leeway because of humans hardness of heart and then goes on to say only should the husband or the wife divorce their spouse because of adultery. So this was stricter than what the Pharisees wanted or proclaimed, and this was broader in that it allowed a woman to divorce her husband which was very uncommon in that day and age. Women have a choice? According to Jesus, yeppers. But also we look at the Gospel of Mark writer who saw God's kingdom coming to earth so there would be no further need for divorce because things would soon be better for all. 

But then we cut to the children. While Jesus and his disciples are now in a house talking amongst themselves, children are being brought to Jesus. Children are very low on the social totem pole in that day and culture so it would be a total waste to have Jesus interact with kids. The disciples try to act as gatekeepers and turn them away. Jesus then rebukes (like rebuffs and exorcises unclean spirits) the disciples and welcomes them, blesses and hugs them. 

In the midst of what is legal or not, what is acceptable or not, what is religious or not; Jesus sets aside the arguments and loves the children. Jesus proclaims that it isn't the wise or the powerful or even the faithful that will enter the kingdom of God, but those who are like children. Innocent, humble, filled with wonder, joy, and trust, maybe?

We now know that families come in all different shapes and sizes, it was true in the Bible and it is true today. And children in families need love, need support, correction, help, and a safe environment. They also need a village in which other family and adults are watching over them and helping them. In using the word 'myth' badly, one of our worst myths of American society is the myth of the family that is just mom and pop and the kids doing it all by themselves. 

We can be like Pharisees (and other groups through history and today) and try to have one solution for all people, all families, and all societies. Or we can be like Jesus and poke some holes in our sense of absolutism or trying to find the loopholes that will benefit ourselves personally, and see what really is important, who really is important, and give them unconditional love. 

Let us cultivate and remember how to have wonder, awe, and fun. Let us seek out some good, some beauty, and laughter in our daily lives. Let us follow Jesus that honors God's laws by loving those around us. Amen.