Matthew 18:1-14
Happy Fathers Day! One of the things that I can't help but think of today as I read this passage, it being Fathers Day, is that there is no Fathers Day without the children. And naturally, I am reminded of my grandson and another grandchild soon to arrive. This is the opportunity of new life. Babies are all about new life.
One of the most wonderful things I used to do as a Deacon was to Baptise babies. Baptism is a sign and an opportunity. It is a sign of God's love for us, a sign of the power of life and an opportunity for rebirth, but not just for the child, for each and every one of us. I would remind everyone in the congregation that while it is primarily the parents charge to nurture and teach this child and to love this child, the responsibility really falls on all of us. We are a community of love.
A baby is a clean slate. It is chance to teach and start all over. Whatever we perceive the world to be, this child can make it better. This child can be better than we are. We want this child to be all that they can be. We want them to be healthy in mind and body. We want them to live up to all their potential. We want them to be free of whatever faults we have. We want them to be free of what we feel hinders us. A child is a gift of newness and hope that is graced on us by God and we get an inkling of the joy God the Father feels as fathers ourselves.
Another joy of Baptism is that while a child is such a blatant reminder of clean slates and newness, this child reminds us that we too can participate in the newness. We are capable of newness and growth. Change, growth and maturity are all part of the promise and gift of new life. Baptism reminds us it is a gift to all of us even if at the moment of Baptism we celebrate it for the one. We are really celebrating it for all. We, the Baptized are all capable of newness. In fact we are promised newness by Jesus' death and yes, resurrection. We are all gifts from God no matter how old we are. We are all as loved as the baby is loved.
As I ponder babies and fatherhood. As I recall the birth of my own children and the joy I still feel; as I recall the joy of our first grandchild and the great anticipation of our second, all I can think of is the great thankfulness. I am thankful for new life and your love heavenly Father.
Happy Fathers Day!
A baby is a clean slate. It is chance to teach and start all over. Whatever we perceive the world to be, this child can make it better. This child can be better than we are. We want this child to be all that they can be. We want them to be healthy in mind and body. We want them to live up to all their potential. We want them to be free of whatever faults we have. We want them to be free of what we feel hinders us. A child is a gift of newness and hope that is graced on us by God and we get an inkling of the joy God the Father feels as fathers ourselves.
Another joy of Baptism is that while a child is such a blatant reminder of clean slates and newness, this child reminds us that we too can participate in the newness. We are capable of newness and growth. Change, growth and maturity are all part of the promise and gift of new life. Baptism reminds us it is a gift to all of us even if at the moment of Baptism we celebrate it for the one. We are really celebrating it for all. We, the Baptized are all capable of newness. In fact we are promised newness by Jesus' death and yes, resurrection. We are all gifts from God no matter how old we are. We are all as loved as the baby is loved.
As I ponder babies and fatherhood. As I recall the birth of my own children and the joy I still feel; as I recall the joy of our first grandchild and the great anticipation of our second, all I can think of is the great thankfulness. I am thankful for new life and your love heavenly Father.
Happy Fathers Day!
At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, ‘Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?’ He called a child, whom he put among them, and said, ‘Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever becomes humble like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.
‘If any of you put a stumbling-block before one of these little ones who believe in me, it would be better for you if a great millstone were fastened around your neck and you were drowned in the depth of the sea. Woe to the world because of stumbling-blocks! Occasions for stumbling are bound to come, but woe to the one by whom the stumbling-block comes!
‘If your hand or your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away; it is better for you to enter life maimed or lame than to have two hands or two feet and to be thrown into the eternal fire. And if your eye causes you to stumble, tear it out and throw it away; it is better for you to enter life with one eye than to have two eyes and to be thrown into the hell of fire.
‘Take care that you do not despise one of these little ones; for, I tell you, in heaven their angels continually see the face of my Father in heaven. What do you think? If a shepherd has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray? And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray. So it is not the will of your Father in heaven that one of these little ones should be lost.
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