Touch is so vitally important.
You can actually see “how” some people “desperately long” to be touched while others of us – repel any and all touch.
Again, we are all so very different…with different wants, needs and desires.
Touch warms and soothes, and lets you know – you are not indeed alone, someone is there with you.
Touch shows that someone cares.
Touching can startle us, surprise us, awaken us…and make us feel more human.
You know as well as I do, there is “good touching” and “bad touching” and in this age of ME2 all touching, it would seem has come under extreme scrutiny.
“Empowerment” is a good thing.
But tail-spinning downward in an opposite direction and bringing an end to any and all touching is not the answer. Indeed touching is necessary!
Our Gospel text in a sense today is about receiving “the powerless”…whether we are talking about divorced women in the time of Jesus or little children.
Mark seldom uses the word “touch” and when he does – it normally has to do with “healing.” As a matter of fact, in Mark’s gospel the word for touch is ALWAYS ASSOCIATED WITH AN ACT OF HEALING.
That, being the case – this should change our view of this Marcan text. The children that were being brought to Jesus were sick little children in need of healing touch.
That makes the disciples seem like a group of Ogres. Not only are they insensitive to the needs of others, but they can also come off as being mean-spirited…and protective of Jesus.
How dare they deny access to Jesus. How dare they block the little sick children and their parents from seeing him!
And yet, this is what Mark tells us, they do!
Mark here, is writing about “the precarious state of children” their vulnerability and their lack of status.
They were without anyone to fight for their cause. They had no one in their corner.
So we might assume that these parents have walked great distances to find the Rabbi from Galilee.
We know from other historical writings and sources that most middle-eastern children, some 60% or greater – died before their 16th birthday.
And we also know that this was an important topic for Mark, because already in his brief gospel, we have had the story of the Synagogue leader’s daughter who had already died of an illness. Added to this was the Syro- Phoenician Woman’s daughter who was ill. And finally, all preceding this chapter there was the story of a man who son was demon-possessed.
There were a lot of sick and dying children in Israel…and these parents bring their sick children to Jesus. They sought him out. They come to him. And once they have arrived and found him, their entrance to the Rabbi is being barred.
Shame on those old stuffy disciples!
So, Jesus “rebukes” them. To rebuke, is a strong word. The word to “rebuke,” is often times reserved for “demons and evil spirits in Mark’s gospel.
Apparently the disciples are forgetting that Jesus had already said – “that whoever welcomed a child – also welcomed him,” which was the same thing as welcoming God.”
How quickly they forget!
The disciples get it wrong again! AGAIN!
“Seeing the disciples turn the sick little children away, Jesus becomes quickly indignant.
Another very strong word… This one meaning to show ones, displeasure, annoyance, strong irritation, with a little bit of anger thrown into the mix for good measure.
No one was more powerless than a child…and Jesus knew it.
Our Gospel closes with Jesus taking the sick little children up into his arms and blessing them. This word is only used here – in all four of our Gospels. Jesus laid his hands on them. He heals them. He brings them new life.
Jesus is now in their corner. He has their back. He will stand up for the rights of these little ones.
And this time, it is the disciples, whose jaws drop down and whose mouths are left ajar.
Amen.