FIRST THINGS FIRST

First ANNETTE OSBORNE | SUNZ Children & Families Consultant Things First

Ahighlight for me in the past few months has been regular visits to the Tākapu Gannet Colony at Muriwai, on the West Coast. Currently, the birds are nesting and preparing for the arrival of their babies in a few months’ time. The headland is dotted with creamy white birds, navigating the winds and persevering at creating nests on the bare hillside. My camera is my companion on these trips. With hundreds of birds in sight, I have learnt to focus my lens on one bird at a time. Keeping an eye on one bird in the crowd allows me to get to know their movements and aim for the perfect shot. As we enter a new year, there is much to grab our attention. We can become overwhelmed with news items, social media feeds and the constant visual overload of the digital world. Like my experience at the Tākapu Colony, it takes intention to focus in on a few things. This year as a Children and Families Team we are committed to focusing in on what we consider to be the important aspects of working alongside children and families in church and community. As we approach a new year, how do we put the first things first? There is an account in the Gospel of Matthew that draws my attention over and over again. You can find it in Matthew 21. Imagine the scene. It was chaotic, crowded and noisy. The temple courts were filled with people from all over Jerusalem and beyond. Everywhere you looked there were people. Amid the crowd was Jesus, walking in the temple courts, most likely in Solomon’s Colonnade where all the debates happened. That’s where the religious leaders were to be found. People were clamouring for Jesus’ attention, bringing their sick and injured to him to heal. Word had spread, and people were desperate for hope and healing. I imagine Jesus stopped to talk with each one, calling them by name, touching their broken twisted limbs and

AS WE APPROACH A NEW YEAR, HOW DO WE PUT THE FIRST THINGS FIRST?

healing them. Wonderful things were going on, says Matthew in his account of that day (Matt 21:15). But not everyone was happy. The religious leaders were indignant. This was no mild annoyance, but strong outrage. The subject of their indignation? A group of children, shouting praise! ‘Hosanna to the Son of David’. So, the leaders called Jesus’ attention to these children: “Do you hear what these children are saying?” they asked him. “Yes,” replied Jesus, “have you never read, “ ‘From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise’?”1

In this moment there are two things I notice. In the midst of the crowds in the temple courts, the children are focused on Jesus. They cut through the crowd with their shouts of praise. The children call attention to Jesus. Secondly, Jesus turns his attention to the children. While the religious leaders are indignant, Jesus sees the children as bringing Psalm 8 to life before them. As we enter this new year, this passage helps us to focus on what is important. What can the children and Jesus offer us as a way to think and act?

Children are worshippers and truth-

tellers. Sure, their approach was noisy and disruptive — a criticism often levelled at children. I notice that Jesus didn’t seem to mind. What an opportunity we have to listen to the praises offered by children and to join in with them. Children recognise Jesus. The religious leaders had a hard time accepting who Jesus was. They debated with him and challenged him. The children praised him. While it would be unhelpful to tar all adults with this brush, there is a challenge in this passage to be aware of our propensity as adults to overlook children’s voices.

Jesus in turn sees the children and affirms

them. He quotes scripture in his response to the religious leaders, drawing attention to the fact that the children are bringing Psalm 8 to life through their words and actions. The way Jesus drew attention to the children highlights the importance of our role as advocates. Where are the children in our churches and communities who we can draw attention to? How can we create opportunities for the worship and truth telling of children to be heard and embraced? As we enter this year with all that crowds in on us, let us be aware of the children in our midst. Let us listen well to what they are saying and join with Jesus in affirming their gift of worship and truth telling.