Luke 18:15-17 "People were bringing even infants to him that he might touch them..."

People were bringing even infants to him that he might touch them; and when the disciples saw it, they sternly ordered them not to do it. But Jesus called for them and said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs. Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it.” (Luke 18:15-17)

Question:

My sister is a practicing Roman Catholic; I am not (although I was born and raised a Catholic, attended eight years of Catholic grade school and received the sacraments of baptism, holy communion, confirmation, and the sacrament of the sick at one point in my life). Her 14-year-old daughter will be attending a “Luke 18” retreat based on the verses Luke 18: 16-17 (which I am very familiar with). My sister is requesting “letters of love, encouragement and appreciation” from family members be written for her daughter, which will be opened and read by her while at the retreat. 
I was wondering what a Unity Minister would say about the passage, so I could get more ideas about what things I might say in the letter to my niece. I am a skeptic at best about Christianity, although I love the teachings of Jesus and believe in Angels, or hope they exist.
Thank you for taking the time to interpret this passage for me. 

Comment:

The disciples were acting according to established religious belief that infants and young children were not able to understand, and thus participate in, spiritual matters. To interact with infants would be a waste of Jesus’ time. Jesus’ response turns conventional wisdom on its head. The Christ energy that is the true identity of each one of us is eternal, and thus ageless. Children are as fully the Christ as we. And in fact, since their Christ awareness has not been as fully polluted by fear-based input from our human senses and consciousness, they are more aware of our innate Oneness with God than adults who have been struggling longer through the dualistic delusion of mortality. We assume we must teach children to be like us. And indeed, in terms of learning how to navigate this human journey, that’s true. But if we are to reconnect with our true spiritual identity and energies, it is we who must become like them—trusting, loving and unthreatened by illusions.

Blessings!

Rev. Ed