Gospel: Matthew 18:1-5, 10
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 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. “See that you do not despise one of these little ones,
for I say to you that their angels in heaven always look upon the face of my
heavenly Father.”
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Reflection:
Why did the disciples ask Jesus: “Who is the greatest in the Kingdom of
heaven?” Were they expecting that Jesus would tell them that they’re the
greatest in the kingdom of heaven because they are His disciples?
Instead, Jesus called a child and said: “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.”
The key that will unlock for us the kingdom of heaven is the humility of
a child that we must always emulate. The key that will invite the grace of the
Holy Spirit upon us is the same childlike humility.
It’s no brainer to ask why a child and not an adult? Unlike
adults, children have the simplest and purest minds. Children are not tainted by
any form of sin and they are docile, humble and obedient. Adults like us are
sinful we defy God’s commandments to satisfy our whims, caprices and desires which sometimes lead us to commit sin.
As we celebrate the Feast of the Child Jesus or the Santo Nino we are
also gently reminded that the children of today are not anymore like the
children of yesteryear. Compared to children born forty or thirty or twenty
years ago, children today are exposed to gadgets and internet. Gadgets and
internet that sometimes corrupts their innocent minds. What intervention
can we do to help these children being corrupted by gadgets and internet?
Due to the harshness of life many of our children today are also more
exposed to poverty. Just look around and you will see. What intervention can
you do to help these children being eaten alive by poverty? - Marino J.
Dasmarinas
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