Gospel (Mk 10,13-16) - At that time, they presented children to Jesus so that he could touch them, but the disciples rebuked them. Jesus, when he saw this, was indignant and said to them: «Let the children come to me, do not hinder them: in fact the kingdom of God belongs to those who are like them. Truly I say to you: whoever does not welcome the kingdom of God as he welcomes a child, he will not enter into it." And, taking them in his arms, he blessed them, placing his hands on them.

The commentary on the Gospel by Monsignor Vincenzo Paglia

This episode takes place at one of the stops along Jesus' journey towards Jerusalem. It was customary to present children to the rabbis so that they would bless them by laying hands on them. This also happens to Jesus, and, probably, the disciples, seeing them running, pushed them away. But Jesus rebukes them because he wants them next to him. And how can we not think of the millions of children in our world who don't know where to go and are exploited? To the many migrant children separated from their parents by unfair and cruel laws against foreigners? For this reason, whoever comes alongside them to help them, to make them grow, to defend them, will certainly receive a great reward. And when Jesus says: «Whoever does not welcome the kingdom of God as a child welcomes it, he will not enter it» he proposes a central teaching in the life of the disciple. This concept is repeated several times in the Gospels. The disciple is first and foremost a son who receives everything from the Father and depends on him in everything. It is the theme of the first beatitude in the Sermon on the Mount: "Blessed are the poor in Spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven". The poor in spirit are the humble, those who become children before God to depend on him and always consider themselves beloved children of the Father who have "received the Spirit who makes adopted children, through whom we cry: Abba, Father!" (Rom 8:15).