Ten seconds later Jesus, still upset, lets fly again. As old as they might be chronologically, they are yet spiritual neonates. They need milk, milk only for now, so that they may develop spiritually. On the contrary, he deems them so very precious that he guarantees the severest retribution to anyone who inhibits in any way the spiritual growth of the newest disciple. And the church is the nursery for newborns.
Unholy spirits are always ready to infest and infect.
Therefore the members of a congregation must ensure that there is safety in the congregation. Plainly there's an incrementalism at work in the nourishing of babes. Several years ago a 65-year old parishioner came to me for help with a brief devotional service she had been asked to conduct. Laughter, contempt and despair are equally unhelpful. Let's nourish instead.