A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew (Mt 18:1-5, 10)
Jesus said to the disciples: “Amen, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will not enter the Kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven. And whoever receives one child such as this in my name receives me.”
Jesus teaches the importance of humility, simplicity, and care for the vulnerable in the kingdom of heaven. All of us are called to embrace trust and humility and to value and protect the most vulnerable in society. Consider what Jesus is really saying when he refers to little ones as a “child such as this”; that is, all of us—every person. Jesus refers to the love of his Father in being childlike and receiving children in his name as a way of receiving him. “See that you do not despise one of these little ones,” Jesus says, “for I say to you that their angels in heaven always look upon the face of my heavenly Father.” To become like children and to receive the childlike in Jesus’ name—how far can one take that to heart?
Father in heaven, help me understand what Jesus is saying in today’s Gospel. To be childlike in faith challenges my sense of self-reliance and status that have developed in maturity. Find a way through to my hardness of heart in receiving your love and in turn caring for others. Give me the grace today to trust you with a childlike heart, recognizing with joy that my guardian angel always looks upon your face. In that, let me take delight in recalling throughout the day that I am never apart from you for even a second.
From the first reading from the prophet Zechariah: “Thus says the LORD of hosts: Lo, I will rescue my people from the land of the rising sun, and from the land of the setting sun. I will bring them back to dwell within Jerusalem. They shall be my people, and I will be their God, with faithfulness and justice.” Guardian angel, be ever present to help and guide me!
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.