“Mr. Sitzer, can I talk to you?” I remember hearing these words for the first time nearly eleven years ago while in my first year of teaching. During a planning period, I was sitting behind my cluttered desk in the corner of my classroom. A student’s face peeked around the corner of my door.

Like all first-year teachers, there were endless aspects of my life that were in terrible disarray, but I knew exactly what to do at that moment. I smiled, shuffled the pile of ungraded papers away, and pulled up a chair. “I’m so glad you knew you could stop by,” I said. “Please come in!”

Today’s gospel is a reminder of the example Christ sets in keeping priorities straight. Our lives overflow with obstacles that distract us from keeping our eyes and ears open to what matters.

I imagine the disciples reminding Jesus of the busy schedule they needed to keep that day, with simply too many things to do for any distractions. But the joy he must have felt in seeing this group of children resonates with anyone who works with students. And I can only imagine those children’s warmth and joy in someone whose love for them knew no limits or scheduling constraints.

Part of living Christ’s example isn’t just making time for those we love but living a life in which those who love us know they can always come to us. The children who came to Jesus had as much sense of his busy schedule as my student did of how many tests I needed to grade. But therein lies the beauty: “the Kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”