First Reading - Ezekiel 18:1-10,13,30-32
Gospel - Matthew 19:13-15
The Catechism of the Catholic Church explains that God created human beings "to know him, to love him and to serve him." This sentence explains about the purpose of God for our creation. The readings of day elaborately reiterate the purpose of our existence as in the CCC and invite us to live according to that purpose.
The first reading calls to our mind the issue of individual responsibility. It was believed by the people that the effect of the sins of the parents is carried forward to the children. This olden belief is challenged by the prophet Ezekiel and he reminds people that each one is responsible for their actions. Furthermore, the prophet bares the heart of God open and tells people to become accountable for their actions. This is also to say, repent for their sins and choose life in God by living the life of uprightness in humility. The prophet also emphasizes that the life of uprightness calls for humility to follow the commandment of God. However, he also marks that arrogance to remain in sin and without repentance can win only punishment, whereas the life of uprightness in humility can win them life. Therefore, he recommends them that they must choose life in God.
The gospel of the day helps us understand how we can employ our humble service to God. The gospel narrates that the children visited Jesus with their parents for their parents wished that Jesus would bless their children. The apostles, disturbed by the gathering of the children, decide to chase them away but Jesus takes this occasion to teach a lesson. He says: "...Let them come to me, it is such of these, the kingdom of heaven belongs." Jesus, by saying this, teaches his disciples that it's the humble and the dependent on God can come to him, and recieve the gift of heaven. A child, in Jewish society, was considered to be insignificant and dependent on parents. The child did not have any identity apart from its parents. When Jesus says it is to the children the kingdom of heaven belongs, he bacons at the very role of the child in relation to its parents, so also a person approaching the kingdom of God must be dependent on God and this makes him humble before God.
Dear friends, yesterday we reflected upon making a right choice and today the readings help us go a step further and discover that the right choice lies in God; to love, serve, and worship Him. The first reading ellaborates that the right choice in God is found through living God's commandment. This way we can love, serve and worship God. The gospel reading also accentuates on the disposition that is required to love, serve, and worship the Lord, such as, the virtue of humility and a trustful dependence on God.
We certainly desire to love and serve God but what prevents us from doing that is our arrogance and pride. The arrogance makes us proud of ourselves and rejects God but the virtue of humility brings us on our knees to accept and love Him as our Lord. This gives an affirmation that we need God. Let's not allow our arrogance to rule and blind us. Let's choose God as the master of our lives and be ready to love and serve Him in our brothers and sisters and those in need.
May God help us become humble and loving servant of God.
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