"Do not hinder them". The role that little children play in the life and teaching of Jesus calls for prayerful reflection. Matthew does not say who brought the children for Jesus' blessing, but we may safely assume their mothers brought them

In some parishes now, little Catholic children who have not yet received their First Communion - and indeed even non-baptized children - come out or are brought out at the end of the Mass to receive the priest's blessing. In Masses celebrated in Catholic schools, even non-baptized adults are invited to come for a blessing. This is a beautiful and significant gesture of inclusion, welcome, tolerance and compassion.

An eminent scholar has studied all the occurrences of the word "hinder" in the New Testament and demonstrates that the principal occurrences are related to baptism. In the beautiful story of the deacon Philip and the Ethiopian official in Acts 8:26-40, after he has been instructed by Philip, the official says: "There is some water there, is there anything to hinder me from being baptized?" In making the Church more open according to the mind and heart of Pope Francis, perhaps we should pray for enlightenment to listen carefully and courageously so as to follow Jesus' teaching: "Do not hinder them".