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More than a precious moment Mark 9:30-37  Who doesn’t love little children? Let’s face it, everybody either does love little children, or is expected to love little children. Those who respond otherwise are considered grinches, curmudgeons, and their attitudes are readily discounted. Little children are, after all, pure, sweet, innocent, naïve – many of the qualities which assume to be absent in adults. It is not surprising that when we read or hear about Jesus interacting with children, many have mental images of a Precious Moments Jesus with a Precious Moments child perched sweetly on his lap. We get all gooey inside, and respond with such sentiments as “Oh, isn’t that Jesus nice? Look at him loving those cute little children? How can you not love a Jesus like that?” we swoon, as we launch into “Jesus Loves the Little Children” followed by “Jesus Loves Me”. Now, as far as I recall, Jesus in all of the Gospel accounts has very little (recorded) contact with children. In his day, kids were truly low on the social & cultural ladder, and perhaps they were kept away from him in the first place. So, when I read the passage from Mark, I am inclined to be a bit expansive in my interpretation of: Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me …”. Throughout his ministry, Jesus champions the poor, the weak, the lepers, the outcasts of all kinds. He tells us to invite such very folks to our banquet tables. Symbolically he takes those folks on his lap all the time, healing them, comforting them, making them whole. Therefore I think we might challenge ourselves to go beyond the literal and obvious in the way we incorporate this Gospel passage into our lives. Of course we love the little children, and we welcome them in Jesus’ name. That’s the relatively easy part, is it not? But then comes the harder part, and one which may not be filled with sweetness and light and not become a Precious Moment – we follow Jesus’ example in welcoming the lepers and social outcasts of our time. We put those folks on our laps, put our arms around them (which for many would be the greatest healing touch they have ever experienced), and tell them that Jesus loves them, and we love them in his name.  Most of us are no longer children (well, not on the outside in any event), and yet we sing: “Jesus loves me! This I know, for the Bible tells me so.”  Jesus loves me, hardly an innocent child. And so Jesus loves other older children, including those who are weak – especially those who are weak. That’s precious.  - Pastor Piet - September 24, 2006