Then he put a little child among them.  Taking the child in his arms, he said to them, "Anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me welcomes my Father who sent me."

Mark 9:36-37

 Jesus uses the child as a symbol of the little ones who are little esteemed, who are needy, who are socially invisible and easily ignored, who can be hurt and dominated without anyone knowing or protesting.  They are the untutored, the persons on the fringes, the ones whom no one misses when they absent themselves from worship, the ones who are tolerated but not embraced into the fellowship.  But these little ones are not insignificant in the eyes of their Lord.  As there is no insignificant family member, so there is no insignificant member in a church.  These are the ones to whom Jesus ministered and through whom God works.

Prayer for the week: Lord, help us to have the same mind about the "little ones" around us that Jesus had.  Help us to esteem others ahead of ourselves.  Let us always seek justice for those who are mistreated and misplaced by society.  Thank you for showing us what our response to these little ones should be.  Amen.