This Lent (February 18-April 4), we are following A Sanctified Art‘s “Tell Me Something Good,” in our worship and Church School. We’re looking at what was central to Jesus’ life and ministry: radical welcome, love for neighbors, care for the vulnerable, nourishment for the hungry, nonviolence in the face of injustice.
On Sunday, we’ll hear a familiar story that, while not often preached on, is the introduction to every baptism we’ve had at United Parish since at least 2017: Jesus welcoming and affirming children. To practice what I preach, we’ll be hearing our scripture passage as it’s written in The Book of Belonging, one of my favorite story bibles.
Here’s what artist Carmelle Beaugelin Caldwell had to say about how the scriptures inspired her for this image (left).
Let the Little Children Come, inspired by Matthew 19:13-15
by Carmelle Beaugelin CaldwellI imagine the scene in Matthew 19: toddlers wailing, little ones slipping from their parents’ arms, parents offering apologetic glances toward the frowning disciples as the scene around Jesus grows increasingly disorderly and loud. Those of us who’ve participated in group infant baptisms and baby dedications (when one cries, the chain reaction begins!), have led children’s sermon moments with restless kids squirming about, or had the joy of watching our little ones participate in a kids’ choir performance that goes delightfully rogue, can easily relate.
The disciples, feeling the weight of being seen as serious leaders alongside their rabbi, Jesus, may have tried to preserve a sense of reverence by shooing away the parents bringing their children to him. Yet here, Jesus reorients his disciples (and us) away from the illusion of control and reminds us that it is the joyful, unruly, sincere presence of a child to whom the kingdom truly belongs.
Just a chapter earlier, in Matthew 18, Jesus tells his followers that unless they become like little children, they will not even enter the kingdom. Surely the disciples thought Jesus couldn’t mean that literally—right?
What does it mean for us to become like children, to approach God like children, to worship like children? Join us on Sunday morning at 11am in the sanctuary and online to find out together…
In faith,
Amy
Image credit: Let the Little Children Come by Carmelle Beaugelin Caldwell. Inspired by Matthew 19:13-15. 11”x14” Acrylic, gold leaf, pen on paper. © a sanctified art | sanctifiedart.org
