Tag: childlike

“One of these little ones.” | Tuesday of the Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time

From the Gospel acclamation: “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart.”

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew (Mt 18:1-5, 10, 12-14)

The disciples approached Jesus and said, “Who is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven?” He called a child over, placed it in their midst, and said, “Amen, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will not enter the Kingdom of heaven. Whoever becomes humble 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 tells the disciples that to become humble like the child, or as he says, “one of these little ones,” is to be constantly in the Lord’s care and under his watch. As the shepherd of a hundred sheep goes in search of the one that is lost, so will our heavenly Father go in search of us, rejoicing when he finds us. Jesus says, “And if he finds it, amen, I say to you, he rejoices more over it than over the ninety-nine that did not stray.” In the same way, God rejoices when even one lost soul is found and brought back into the fold. If Jesus commands as the Son of God that we become like children in order to enter the kingdom of heaven, it is good that we take this to heart and put it into practice today and every day.

God, grant me the wisdom to put aside the well-trodden ways maturity has brought me to and do as Jesus asks. When I call to mind memories of childhood and what it means to trust in the loving care of a father and mother, I understand what Jesus means about becoming like a child—humble and trusting in your lovingkindness and mercy. Suffering and hardship will come; it is inevitable. Ezekiel describes the scroll you gave him to eat, and on it was written lamentation and wailing and woe. Yet, in eating the scroll that you put in his mouth, he found that it was as sweet as honey so that he was able to go out and speak of your goodness to all who would hear your words. Help me, Lord, continually turn to you. Saints Pontian and Hippolytus, pray for us!

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.

“Jesus turned and rebuked them.” | Tuesday of the Twenty-sixth Week in Ordinary Time

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke (Lk 9:51-56)

When the days for Jesus to be taken up were fulfilled, he resolutely determined to journey to Jerusalem, and he sent messengers ahead of him. On the way they entered a Samaritan village to prepare for his reception there, but they would not welcome him because the destination of his journey was Jerusalem.

As Luke tells us that Jesus “resolutely determined” to travel to Jerusalem, the first reading from the prophet Zechariah makes clear why Jesus made that his intention before his passion, death, and resurrection: God came to be with his people. Speaking through Zechariah, the LORD says: “Many peoples and strong nations shall come to seek the LORD of hosts in Jerusalem and to implore the favor of the LORD.” But the people in a Samaritan village would not welcome him. Faced with rejection, James and John, the Sons of Thunder, ask Jesus if they should call down fire from heaven. But Jesus came to serve and die on the cross for many; he does not force the fulfillment of his mission on the Samaritans. Luke tells us: “Jesus turned and rebuked them, and they journeyed to another village.”

God, as the psalmist says, you are with us and invite all of us to implore your favor. Jesus teaches me through his rebuke of James and John. Your invitation to be with you isn’t accomplished as worldly power would accomplish it, through force. Instead, Jesus journeys to another village to find his way to Jerusalem. He finds another way to accomplish your will by dying on the cross. Luke doesn’t say what words of rebuke Jesus spoke to James and John. Was it a silent rebuke—eyes on them—as he led them to seek another way, to learn through mercy the way to their eternal home? Lord, help me today be resolutely determined to recognize and do your will.

From the responsorial psalm: “They shall note, when the peoples are enrolled: ‘This man was born there.’ And all shall sing, in their festive dance: ‘My home is within you.’ God is with us.”

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.

“. . . unless you turn and become like children.” | Memorial of the Guardian Angels

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.

Monday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew (Mt 9:18-26)

A woman suffering hemorrhages for twelve years came up behind him
and touched the tassel on his cloak. She said to herself, “If only I can touch his cloak, I shall be cured.” Jesus turned around and saw her, and said,
“Courage, daughter! Your faith has saved you.” And from that hour the woman was cured.

In the Gospel for today, Jesus is on his way with the disciples to the house of an official, whose daughter has just died. The official tells this to Jesus, saying, “But come, lay your hand on her, and she will live.” Immediately, Jesus and the disciples rise to follow him to his house. As Jesus makes his way, the woman suffering hemorrhages finds him and in touching the tassel of his cloak is immediately healed. Both the official and the woman place their complete trust in Jesus’ ability to heal. Just as the woman’s faith leads to healing, the official’s faith is tested and is also rewarded. Jesus puts out the ridiculers, and those who remain are witnesses to the miracle of the daughter’s resurrection.

God, help me understand that your Son demonstrated power over sickness and death. In recognizing that astounding authority, the official is an example of great faith in the face death, which Jesus conquers. The woman in the Gospel teaches me that with great faith only a little effort opens up the vast reach of your love and mercy. Give me the grace to approach you with faith and complete trust for whatever I need.

Thank you, God, for your word and for the death and resurrection of your Son. Thank you for the gift of faith, which I ask you to strengthen. From the responsorial psalm: “Because he clings to me, I will deliver him; I will set him on high because he acknowledges my name. He shall call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in distress. In you, my God, I place my trust.”

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.

Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew (Mt 11:25-30)

At that time Jesus exclaimed: “I give praise to you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to little ones. Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him.”

In today’s second reading from Saint Paul, he compares the Spirit and the flesh. Living according to the flesh leads to death, while if living by the Spirit, “you put to death the deeds of the body” and you will live. In the Gospel, Jesus exclaims in praise the same message through his relationship to the Father. The little ones Jesus speaks of have a childlike faith that acknowledges what it means to live in the Spirit; namely, “No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son.” No one knows the Father as Jesus, meek and humble of heart, knows the Father.

God, as the psalmist says, you lift up all who are falling and raise up all who are bowed down. Help me remember to come to you when I feel burdened and heavy with the cares of this world. In receiving the Eucharist, the body and blood of Christ, I want to live courageously in the Spirit, putting to death the deeds of the body. “Learn from me,” Jesus says. Help me take on the humility and meekness of Christ, who lived every moment of his life in your gracious will. Taking on that yoke, uniting myself to him, help me learn to find rest in assimilating myself to him.

“I will praise your name for ever, my king and my God.” Lord, through your Spirit that dwells in me, reveal to me through your Son what you hide from the wise and the learned.

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.