First Reading - Ezekiel 2:8-3:4
Gospel - Matthew 18:1-5,10,12-14
The first reading tells us about the child-like response of Ezekiel in accepting the mission of God to proclaim His word to the people. Ezekiel was warned that he might suffer cruel treatment at the hands of his countrymen, but he had to persevere. Whether they heeded his words or not, they would at least know that he was God’s prophet, because the power of God would be at work in him. Ezekiel was not to share the stubborn attitude of the people. He had to declare all that God told him to declare, even when the message was one of ‘lamentation, mourning and woe’. He had to eat the scroll containing God’s message, thereby signifying that he made God’s message his own before giving it to others. When, in obedience to God, Ezekiel ate the scroll, he unexpectedly found it a sweetly satisfying experience. This is the result of humble obedience to God; everything turns sweet.
The gospel passage is centered around the child-like imagery. Jesus puts an end to the discussion of the apostles:"Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" Jesus teaches them to follow the example of a child to become the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. He invites the apostles to become like the little children. Why does he say that? It's because Jesus wants them to wear the virtue of humility and trusting faith. A child traces its identity from its parents and that makes the child dependent on its parents and from it issues the virtue of humility. This is to say that it's the humble person who can become great in the sight of God because that person has nothing to boast nor to hoard (in terms of position or posts). In fact, humility is a realisation of the fact that one depends on God who cares for him/her. Jesus demands this attitude from his disciples. The virtue of humility is also a gateway to heaven, as Jesus himself says:"Unless you become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
Dear friends, our God is a caring and loving God. He knows us and our needs. It's our pride that can betray us and make us feel that everything is in our control but the fact is we are no one to control. It's God who is in command and directs everything. If He is in command we need to rely on Him in humble faith. We need to become a child to God. Which means, we need to have a trusting faith in Him in humility and God will certainly grant us all we need. God loves and cares for us as a mother, let's cling unto Him like a child and respond to His love and care.
May God help us live the virtue of humility in our daily life.
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