*Sacred Scripture* Jesus & the Children – Bloch
This artwork, by C. Bloch, shows Christ blessing children and reproaching His apostles for attempting to keep the children from Him. This event is recounted in Mark 10: 13-14: “And they brought to him young children, that he might touch them. And the disciples rebuked them that brought them. Whom when Jesus saw, he was much displeased, and saith to them: Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not; for of such is the kingdom of God.”
Mk 10:13-16
Blessing of the Children.
13f And people were bringing children to him that he might touch them, but the disciples rebuked them.g
14When Jesus saw this he became indignant and said to them, “Let the children come to me; do not prevent them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.
15Amen, I say to you, whoever does not accept the kingdom of God like a child* will not enter it.”h
16Then he embraced them and blessed them, placing his hands on them.
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/mark/10
LET THE LITTLE CHILDREN COME UNTO ME
This painting illustrates a story from the Savior’s life. Jesus’ followers brought their children to see Him, and “his disciples rebuked those that brought them. But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein. And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them.”
In this painting, Bloch depicts the Savior’s disciples holding the young children back to prevent them from bothering Jesus. James E. Talmage suggests that the disciples’ viewpoint was influenced by their society, which believed that women and children occupied an inferior position in society. The children who have come to see Jesus have trustful, peaceful expressions on their face, and the Savior holds the hand of one child while His arm is around another. Other onlookers gather to see what the Savior will do.
“Above the Savior’s head is a richly woven fabric with long tassels. From the fifteenth century on, this “cloth of honor” appeared in artistic representations of important and powerful figures. It was most often hung in a long panel behind the person to represent his nobility or high rank. In this image, the cloth has been lifted up, perhaps as a sign of Christ’s openness as well as His nobility.”
Saying the holy name of Jesus is the simplest way of praying always.
1-A prayer from Raphael the Archangel:
*While you are on this earth, you must praise the Lord God and give him thanks.
2-A prayer from Tobit and Tobias:
*They began to sing hymns of praise, giving thanks for all the mighty deeds God had done while his angel Raphael had been with them.
3-A simple Jesus prayer:
*Lord, Lord, Jesus Christ…Son of God…have mercy on me…Be kind to others…Work Hard…Be joyful.
4-Another prayer:
*When all that God asks of us is to be quiet and keep ourselves at peace-attentive to the secret work He is beginning in our souls-Be Empty and See That I Am God.
Consider the generations of old and see: has anyone trusted in the Lord and been disappointed? Or has anyone persevered in the fear of the Lord and been forsaken? Or has anyone called upon him and been neglected? For the Lord is compassionate and merciful; he forgives sins and saves in time of distress.
Eccl 2:10–11, NRSV