It was a Jewish custom to present the children to the Rabbis so that they would bless them. But here the Apostles thought that the children were abusing the goodness of Jesus. With gestures and harsh words they started to drive away the children from His presence. But, the Lord reproved their attitude and asked the children to come to Him because "theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven". Pestered by the "dialectic misunderstanding" of the Pharisees, Jesus was resting with the simplicity of the children.

This happening has a beautiful symbolism. Openly Jesus wanted to ratify His love for the simple ones, for those pure at heart. These are open to the Kingdom of God. The "sufficient ones", those who aim to be critical, judging the saving plan of God, who are continually involved in discussions and polemics, they are the ones who do not enter fully into the loving plan of God.

This beautiful symbolism is also reaffirmed in the first reading. The preaching of the prophets rediscovers the image of Yahweh that He is God for everybody and corrects mistaken formulations.