03/10/2026
Mark 10:13-16
Walt Whitman famously said, “And whoever walks a furlong without sympathy walks to his own funeral drest in his shroud.”
It’s a depressing quote, at least for those who choose to walk without sympathy, but it’s relevant to what we read about today in Mark 10:13-16.
Jesus has stopped along the road somewhere, and the locals are bringing little kids to him so he can bless them. But for some reason, the disciples seem to think there are more important things to do, so they pick up their shrouds and walk to their own funerals. Wait, I mean, the disciples show zero sympathy for the kids and shoo them away. They’re like that old-man caricature: Hey, you kids, get off my lawn!
Jesus is, to use a precisely accurate psychological term with deep theological precedent, pi**ed off.
What he tells his disciples, in so many words, is that kids are the very best of the Kingdom of God. So not only are they worthy of his time, but the disciples had better not keep them away. Jesus goes on to say that they (and all the rest of us) would be better off accepting the love of God in the same way a child does. Which is to say, instantly, recklessly, and with full belief.
It’s a powerful chastising, full of theological importance. But also, kids are just a heck of a lot of fun! They don’t ask dumb questions, only sincere ones. They don’t try to trick Jesus. They don’t put expectations on him. No doubt because of their own pureness of heart, they immediately sense the purity of love they are already receiving from Jesus.
It makes sense that if Jesus is given a choice between hanging out with adults or some kids with bright smiles and big hearts, he’s going to choose the kids. Just like it makes sense that he’s going to bless them and make sure no one gets in the way of that.
Walt Whitman was right. If we’re walking along our road trip without sympathy for others, well, we may as well be walking to our own funerals. Which will probably be sparsely attended, by the way.
This Lent, let’s not do that. Let’s find joy and fun, even on this journey. Like Jesus, let’s find a way to bless the kids.
Roy Goble
