Receive the Kingdom as a Child

People were bringing even infants to Jesus that he might touch them; and when the disciples saw it, they sternly ordered them not to do it. But Jesus called for them and said, "Let the little children come to me, and 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."

A certain ruler asked him, "Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?" Jesus said to him, "Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. You know the commandments: 'You shall not commit adultery; You shall not murder; You shall not steal; You shall not bear false witness; Honor your father and mother.'" He replied, "I have kept all these since my youth." When Jesus heard this, he said to him, "There is still one thing lacking. Sell all that you own and distribute the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me." But when he heard this, he became sad; for he was very rich. Jesus looked at him and said, "How hard it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God! Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God." Those who heard it said, "Then who can be saved?" He replied, "What is impossible for mortals is possible for God." Then Peter said, "Look, we have left our homes and followed you." And he said to them, "Truly I tell you, there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, who will not get back very much more in this age, and in the age to come eternal life.” Luke 18:15-30 

Receive the Kingdom

The riches of the world sparkle and shine

the new fashions are garments that tempt

places of power require large sums of money

we come into and out of the world with nothing.

This nothing at the beginning and end

are the gifts of God for we are wrapped in love

our bobbles and trinkets can hide that gift

and we can start to believe in ourselves alone.

It is a small thing to share from our riches

with the poor and the outcast on our streets

it is another to leave family and home

to care for those who cry out all night.

This nothing at our start and our end

is truly the mark of the Divine on our beings

our common humanity is found in our lack

and joy and wonder return in our sharing.