Play Like Jesus – Part 2 of 5
At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, ‘Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?’ 2He called a child, whom he put among them, 3and said, ‘Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4Whoever becomes humble like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.Temptations to Sin 6 ‘If any of you put a stumbling-block before one of these little ones who believe in me, it would be better for you if a great millstone were fastened around your neck and you were drowned in the depth of the sea. 7Woe to the world because of stumbling-blocks! Occasions for stumbling are bound to come, but woe to the one by whom the stumbling-block comes! -Mt 18.1-7 
Some adults have forgotten what it means to be child-like. Some of us do not want to remember what it means to be child-like – humble, trusting, vulnerable, and playful. Some of us adults have forgotten what it is like to play like Jesus! Yes, play! Do you think Jesus played as a child? Do you think that Jesus ran, chased, skipped, jumped, and laughed? Do you think that Jesus might have played a trick or two on the other children in the community? We don’t know much about Jesus as a child, but Jesus was a child.
With the incarnation – Jesus came into this world as a dependent, helpless, needy, baby. Jesus came into the world the child of a teen parent. Jesus came into this world in little more than a cave or stable – no family present. No baby shower for Mary. No guaranteed healthcare. God became incarnate under worse circumstances than most of us able to access the internet, but like the majority of children born in this world today.
Nevertheless, surrounded by strangers, the King of Kings, our Lord of Lords came humbly into this world on the fringes of society. God, being all-powerful could have chosen to come to us as a political powerhouse, but instead we find no room for Jesus at his birth. We find the advent of God in the form of a helpless, defenseless baby.
“Jesus lived each phase of childhood.” We may reason that Jesus knew “the love and comfort of parents and the fears, sorrows and joys of a child.” In this way, Jesus could be a friend to children. Robert Coles, one of the most powerful voices in the spiritual lives of children, conducted extensive research with children from all over the world. “As Coles talked with Christian children, he was impressed by how important Jesus was to them. Coles had a sense that in a special way they saw Jesus as a children’s Savior. Children identified with Jesus because Jesus had been a child, just as they were. Jesus’ life had a purpose, and that interested children who wonder about their future”. Children relate to Jesus because Jesus experienced childhood.
RESOURCES:
The Inner Lives of Children – The Spiritual Lives of Children by Robert Coles
The Religious Potential of the Child by Sophia Cavaletti
Unplugged Play by Bobbi Conner
Real Kids, Real Faith – Practices for Nurturing Children’s Spiritual Lives by Karen Marie Yust
Joining Children on the Spiritual Journey – Nurturing a Life of Faith by Catherine Stonehouse
