“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you.”
“The Lord Himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”
Responsorial Psalm
Response: “The Lord’s portion is His people.” (Deuteronomy 32)
Gospel (Matthew 18:1–5, 10, 12–14)
“Unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Whoever receives one such child in My name receives Me.”
“See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels always see the face of My Father.”
“If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them goes astray… he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray. So it is not the will of My Father that one of these little ones should perish.” (Matthew 18:12–14)
Reflection:
The Bible readings today are very rich, especially the Gospel reading. In today’s first reading, Moses speaks to Israel for the last time. At 120 years old, he knows he will not enter the Promised Land. Yet his message is one of courage and reassurance: “Be brave and steadfast… The Lord your God marches with you; He will never fail you or forsake you.” He passes the mantle to Joshua, reminding the people that God Himself will lead them forward.
In the Gospel, the disciples ask Jesus a very human question: “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”
In our own lives, we hear it in different words: Who’s in charge? Who matters most? Who has the final say? In many workplaces, people believe the CEO is the only one who matters, not the hardest working custodian on the unit, making sure the place is clean and free of filth that could fester disease.
However, Jesus’ answer was unexpected. He calls a child into their midst and says, “Unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”
Greatness in God’s kingdom is not measured by status, power, or recognition, but by humility, trust, and simplicity.
Children forgive quickly, share freely, and live without pretense. They trust their parents to care for them, and they find joy in the simplest things. Unfortunately, as we grow older, that innocence fades, replaced by caution, judgment, pessimism, and pride. Yet Jesus invites us to recover a childlike heart, not childishness, but a willingness to trust, learn, and love without conditions. I constantly remind myself to trust a little more, but in a world fraught with lies and deception, once that trust is gone, there is no turning back.
He also reminds us of the shepherd who leaves the ninety-nine to search for the one lost sheep. This tells us that no matter how far we stray, God seeks us out with joy: “It is not the will of My Father… that one of these little ones should perish.”
The disciples themselves were imperfect, Peter denied Him, Judas betrayed Him, and the others argued about status. Yet God called them, just as He calls us, not because we are flawless, but because He loves us and can work through us.
True greatness, then, is not about lording over others, but about lowering ourselves to serve. It is about living so that Christ’s humility, compassion, and joy can shine through us.
Many saints we read about were once great in the world’s eyes, rulers, leaders, scholars, but they became truly great when they gave up their worldly prestige and chose service over self-importance. Heaven remembers them not for their titles, but for their love for humanity.
Let us pray for the grace to seek this greatness: the greatness of a child before God, humble, trusting, and open to His will. For as Jesus said, “Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”
God bless you, and have a wonderful week.
-Pal Ronnie-
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