I describe this saying as a "mysterious truth" because Jesus does not go on to explain what it means to "receive the kingdom of God as a little child," or even what "the kingdom of God" is. Most commentators equate the kingdom of God with heaven, and they focus on the qualities of trusting innocence and openness that characterize a romantic, idealistic view of children. Problem is, real children don't always live up to the ideals that we associate with the word "childlike." That's why we have a similar word with a very different meaning: "childish."

But whether our children display "childlike" or "childish" behavior, Jesus makes it clear in our gospel lesson that he welcomes them and offers them a blessing: "Let the little children come to me; do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs." Jesus doesn't just accept the pretty children with the rosy cheeks and shy smiles; he also blesses the dirty children, the stinky children, the naughty children. In other words, he blesses us, all of us.

In fact, it is his distinct pleasure to do so. When the disciples try to prevent the people from bringing children to him for his blessing, Mark tells us that Jesus became "indignant." The Greek word Mark uses for "indignant" isn't found anywhere else in the gospels, and "indignant" is, to say the least, a polite translation. I wouldn't want to shock young ears, so I won't reveal how I'd translate this word, but suffice it to say, Jesus is ticked off. Jesus gets angry when his own followers get in the way, presuming that anybody, young or old, rich or poor, married, divorced, widowed, or single, should be prevented from coming and kneeling before him for a blessing.

Reflecting on this passage, commentator Bonnie Bowman Thurston asks, "If we understand ourselves to be the 'people' or the 'crowd' who listen to Jesus, the question becomes, 'Who are the 'little ones' whom we need to bring to Jesus, knowing (because he has blessed us) that he will take them in his arms and bless them?'"

Well, if we ask that question in the context of Rich and Amy's marriage vows, the answer is obvious: Julia, Caroline, Grace, Nick, Will, and Ben are the "little ones" on whose behalf we gather here this evening, not just Amy and Rich themselves. In essence, Rich and Amy are doing what those people in Mark's gospel did: in coming before God to ask a blessing on their marriage, they are bringing their little ones to Jesus to ask for his blessing on them, as well.

Mark's gospel assures us that not only is Jesus willing to give a blessing to all such children, but that the kingdom of God belongs to such as them-not to the idealized children of paintings and fairy tales, but to real kids, kids like Nick, Will, Ben, Julia, Caroline, and Grace. Kids like you and me, in fact.

Such a realization leads us to ask: If Jesus not only wants to bless us, but to give us the kingdom of God, what does that kingdom look like? As I mentioned earlier, most commentators simply read "kingdom of God" as a code for "heaven," that is, the place one goes after you're dead. But Jesus isn't talking primarily about life after death here, though eternal life with God is a part of the picture. Rather, he's talking first of all about what it means to live life with God in the here-and-now. In short, this passage leads us to ask a very basic question: What does being a follower of God entail?

While our gospel lesson doesn't elaborate on this theme, the lesson that Nick read from First John does. Elsewhere in First John, the author several times addresses his audience as "little children." This isn't because he is talking down to them, or because he views them as immature Christians. Quite the contrary: it is because he is addressing them as people who are able to grasp and to live into a very basic truth: that God is love.

At the beginning of chapter three, John writes, "See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God; and that is what we are." He later elaborates on what it means to be God's beloved children, in the reading we just heard:

"Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God; everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love. God's love was revealed among us in this way: God sent his only Son into the world so that we might live through him…Beloved, since God loved us so much, we also ought to love one another."

Amy and Rich know that because God loves them, they are called to love each other, and I know that they hope that their children realize the profound simplicity of this truth, as well. God is love. God sent his Son, Jesus, so that we might have life, and have it abundantly. And when we experience the love of God that comes through faith in Christ, that love draws us to reach out in love to each other and the world around us.

Love comes in many forms: the love of husband and wife, the love of brother and sister, the love of friend and friend-to name but a few. In whatever form we find it, we can recognize that the Source of that love is God, and that the ultimate sign of God's love for us is Christ.

Rich and Amy get this. They know it in their bones, and they want their children, and all of us, to know it, too. That is why we are here today: to celebrate not just the love that joins these two people in holy matrimony, but to celebrate the Source of that love, God, and to share that Source with each other-and in particular, with Grace and Ben, Caroline and Will, Julia and Nick. So, kids: my prayer for you is that you may be so blessed by the blessing of your parents' marriage, that you come to know the Source of that blessing for yourself. Amen.