Daily Catholic Lectio. Tue, 13 Aug ’24. Small means great!

Daily Catholic Lectio

Tue, 13 August ‘24

Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time – Tuesday

Ezekiel 2:8-3:4. Matthew 18:1-5, 10-14

Small means great!

The disciples ask Jesus, ‘Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?’ (gospel reading).

Jesus’ answer did not contain any of the following names:

‘Abraham, the father of faith;’ ‘Jacob, the father of the Twelve;’ ‘the resilient Joseph who ascended to the throne;’ ‘Moses, the leader par excellence;’ ‘Joshua, who led the people into the Promised Land;’ ‘the brave Samson;’ ‘Saul, the first king;’ ‘David, the greatest king;’ ‘Solomon, the wise.’

Rather, Jesus placed a child before the disciples and said, The child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. It involves accepting Jesus with a childlike heart.

Further, Jesus shows how God takes the side of the little ones, the poor, the weak, the vulnerable, and the lost.

(a) In the kingdom of heaven, ‘growing up’ means ‘growing down;’ ‘Being great’ means ‘being small.’

(b) God defends the little ones.

(c) Those who belong to the kingdom have childlike innocence and humility.

The paradox of humanity is that we all wish to grow up only to regret why we grew up so fast!

In the first reading, the Lord God calls Ezekiel ‘mortal’ and exhorts him not to be rebellious. Rebelliousness begins as a thought, becomes a word, and blasts into action. The rebellious attitude creates distance between God and us.

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The pilgrims of hope know that the childlike heart is not rebellious. (Jubilee 2025 AD, bite 172).

Fr. Yesu Karunanidhi

Archdiocese of Madurai

Missionary of Mercy