In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Last Sunday was “Universal Children’s Day”. This day provides a special opportunity to spend time with children, create positive memories, and take part in fun activities that start new traditions as well as continue old ones.
Jesus had a special relationship with children. He taught that both ‘being kind to’ a little child and “being like” a little child requires us to have open, giving hearts. Let us listen to this passage from St. Mark’s Gospel, which teaches us to enter into a relationship with Jesus with child-like hearts.
Jesus Blesses Little Children: (Mark 10: 13-16)
People were bringing little children to him in order that he might bless them; and the disciples spoke sternly to them. But when Jesus saw this, he was indignant and said to them, ‘Let the little children come to me; do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs. Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it.’ And he took them up in his arms, laid his hands on them, and blessed them.
The Gospel of the Lord…
Praise to You, Lord Jesus Christ. 
Loving God, you have made us your children, as varied as the flowers of a garden. You have blessed each one of us uniquely.
And each fragile, growing child is infinitely precious in your sight. Through the eyes of a child, may we always see the promise in the dawn of each new day and may we close our eyes at the end of each day with the trust of a child.
Amen.
We close in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.