The Pharisees do not so much care about people as they care about people obeying their laws. Jesus demonstrates care and cares that the Pharisees do not care. Jesus speaks about their lack of care to their face, “of the hardness of your hearts.” Jesus then notices a hardness of hearts in his disciples, “People were bringing children to Jesus that he might touch them, but the disciples rebuked them.” Jesus responded, “Let the children come to me; do not prevent them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.”
We may find ourselves acting in an uncaring manner, betraying a ‘hardness of our hearts,’ even with children. We can be shown the softness of our hearts, with children and others. We care for the emerging beauty of a child who touches our amazement. We care for the graceful flow of a peacemaker who touches our imagination. We care for the energetic marvel of an immigrant who touches our hopes. We care in open wonder for all people who are vulnerable as they touch our lives. We learn to be care-full with life. Children, peacemakers, and immigrants can also remind us to be creative, even playful with life and its circumstances. Care and play are good companions. They help diminish the Pharisee in us, the need for obedience and strictness. At play, we care less about obeying rules and we care more about being in touch with a friend. Play teaches us to care for creation. We learn to care for creativity because of the spontaneity and joy creation animates in us. Caring about play and all the friends whose lives we touch rarely produces a Pharisee. Pharisees rarely produce children and adults who are care-full and play-full with another. Pharisees tend to produce cruelty. There have been studies done with male inmates whose ability to care is so seriously diminished they have killed other human beings. These studies show a high majority, at 90%, were parented in terrible play histories; absent or deficient and even cruel. If we do not learn to be care-full and play-full with others, then how shall we see ourselves through irritations or difficulties? If we do not hold each other in care, play-full in creatively moving through difficulties, then how shall we hold ourselves together in times of trouble. We likely will not. We likely will be forceful and dull. It is part of the lament of our time. Some people, many of whom call themselves ‘Christian,’ are showing signs of having been parented badly, especially lacking in being care-full, play-full. It seems they have been parented by Pharisees. They act much like the men in the prisoner’s study, cruel. We see the cruel ‘hardness of hearts’ when the Pharisees of our time refuse to wear Covid masks or get vaccinated for their brothers and sisters in Christ. When they advocate for the 2nd Amendment and buy guns to use against their brothers and sisters in Christ. When they support horseback riding ICE agents threatening with whips their Haitian brothers and sisters in Christ. When we are care-full, play-full, we ‘Let the children come to Christ.’ ‘We accept the Community of God like a child.’ ‘We embrace the children and bless them, placing our hands on them.’
“Through the years of watching our children and grandchildren grow…they never left a doubt…as to those things… they never cared about. They never cared if we were old or bald…or short or tall or fat. They never cared if our house was small…or if the ceiling had a crack. They never cared how much money we had… They only cared that we loved them… each and every day… that we were accepting, generous and kind They cared that we nurtured their hearts, their souls…and helped to improve their minds… They cared that we spent time with them…and the last time that I checked… They cared if we treated them with tenderness…with humanity…and respect. How blessed we’ve been.” (The Things They Never Cared About – Jim Yerman)
Prayer: Spirit, guide us to care.
Question: Who are the children in my life who need me to be care-full and play-full with them?
October 3, 2021 Gospel Mark 10:2-16 Twenty Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time