Mtr Margaret Babcock
“(Jesus) put a child in the middle of the room. Then, cradling the little one in his arms, he said, ‘Whoever embraces one of these children as I do embraces me, and far more than me
—God who sent me.’”
—Mark 9:36-37, The Message
Dear Friends,
“I let go of my desire for power and control.”
These words show up in the Welcoming Prayer among a whole litany of attachments to give up. I’ve been praying this daily for six months now. When I read about the disciples arguing about who among them was the greatest, I sympathized.
I wonder if Jesus understood how hard it is to give up our attachments to personal visions of power and control. I think he must have.
In the gospel reading today (Mark 9:30-41), the disciples ignored his prediction about the coming crucifixion and resurrection while jockeying for position in the coming Kingdom. Instead of chastising, Jesus challenges his followers with a living metaphor. He embraces a little child, telling them to see this scene as not only the epitome of relationship with him but also with God.
Let’s ponder this with the disciples for a bit.
What I’ve learned about letting go is that wanting something isn’t the problem. There are many things we want that God wants for us, too.
But desire for a future situation I’m counting on can blind me to what is present, including what God may be doing.
Small children, however, haven’t learned yet to fixate on a desired outcome.
I envision Jesus sweeping this toddler up into a big hug and the child delighted with the attention. Perhaps Jesus blows a raspberry while the kid giggles and tugs his beard. Their play has no competition or scheming. It is simply two souls being present to each other.
Jesus offers this homely vignette to his ambitious disciples (and to us!), demonstrating without psychological language how to embrace their inner child, who has not yet bought into the dog-eat-dog ethic of society.
When we let go of the world’s insistence on the importance of status, power and position, we can connect with the relationship that God offers. Only then will we have room in our souls and in our communities to (as the Welcoming Prayer says) “open to the presence and love of God and God’s action within.”
Poor disciples! It’s hard to let go of a fantasy future we fervently desire. But when our grip loosens, we find God present now.
No matter where we are—crucifixion, resurrection or any situation in between—God holds us in an embrace of love and acceptance.
Blessings,
—Mtr Margaret
