Fr Paul Gooley reads from the Gospel of Mark (10: 13-16) in which Jesus says, “Let the little children come to me and do not stop them.”

Fr Paul says, in this Gospel we see a beautiful moment where people bring their children to Jesus so that He can bless them. The disciples, we hear, however, try to stop the children from coming close. But Jesus is unhappy about this. He tells His disciples, “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”.

This passage teaches us how much Jesus loves children and how important they are in God’s eyes. He wants everyone, especially children, to feel welcomed and loved. Jesus reminds us that to enter the kingdom of God, we must have a heart like a child—full of trust, innocence, and joy.

As we reflect on this, Fr Paul says, let us remember to treat all children with love and kindness, just as Jesus does. We can learn from their simple faith and openness to God. Let us also be welcoming to everyone, ensuring that no one feels left out, because in God’s family, everyone is important!