Daily Catholic Lectio
Tue, 12 August ‘25
Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time, Tuesday
Deuteronomy 31:1-8. Matthew 18:1-5, 10-14
The Little Ones are the Greatest
In the time of Jesus, many believed the Kingdom of Heaven was coming soon. Naturally, a question arose: Who will be the greatest in this Kingdom?
Jesus gives a surprising answer: The one who becomes like a little child will be the greatest. He also makes it clear that His mission is especially for the little ones — the lowly, the unnoticed, the weak.
1. Entering Like a Child
Children are different from adults in a simple but profound way: they live without clinging to status or titles or labels. Adults often introduce themselves by what they have — education, position, wealth, or achievements. A child is simply a child.
In the Kingdom of Heaven, only those who are willing to let go of such attachments — or at least not hold on to them as their identity — can truly enter. Possessing skills, honours, or roles is not wrong, but clinging to them and defining ourselves by them keeps us from the freedom of God’s children.
2. Never Despise the Little Ones
Jesus warns: Do not look down on even one of these little ones. We are often tempted to treat people according to their rank, influence, or usefulness to us. We raise up the “important” and ignore or diminish the “insignificant.” This is not the way of the Kingdom. In God’s eyes, every person — however small in the world’s eyes — has infinite worth.
3. Seeking the Lost
Jesus compares Himself to a shepherd who leaves ninety-nine sheep to search for the one that has gone astray. From a numbers point of view, the ninety-nine seem far more important. But in the Kingdom, the one who is lost is the one most in need — and so they are sought with love, even at great cost.
4. From the Small to the Great
In the first reading, leadership passes from Moses to Joshua. Joshua is still young and inexperienced, yet Moses strengthens him: “Be strong and courageous! The Lord Himself goes before you. Do not be afraid!”
Moses does more than hand over responsibility — he instils confidence. In this way, he helps a “little one” grow into a great leader.
5. Living the Message
The Kingdom of God turns the world’s values upside down: Greatness is not measured by power but by humility. Importance is not about being served but about serving. Leadership is not about control but about lifting others up.
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, give me the heart of a child — simple, trusting, and free from pride. Teach me never to despise the small, and to go out in search of the lost with Your compassion. Help me to lift others up, as Moses lifted Joshua, so that in Your Kingdom, all may share in Your greatness. Amen.
Fr. Yesu Karunanidhi
Archdiocese of Madurai
Missionary of Mercy
Yesu Karunanidhi 
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