Gospel (Mt 18:1-5, 10, 12-14)

At this time the disciples came to Jesus and said, 'Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?' So he called a little child to him and set the child in front of them.

Then he said, "I tell you solemnly, unless you change and become like little children you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. And so, the one who makes himself as little as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 

"Anyone who welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me. See that you never despise any of these little ones, for I tell you that their angels in heaven are continually in the presence of my Father in heaven. 

"Tell me. Suppose a man has a hundred sheep and one of them strays; will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hillside and go in search of the stray? I tell you solemnly, if he finds it, it gives him more joy than do the ninety-nine that did not stray at all. Similarly, it is never the will of your Father in heaven that one of these little ones should be lost."

Commentary

At times, the Gospels show us the disciples concerned with their relative importance. With a curiosity that seems less than supernatural, they ask the Master this time who He thinks is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Jesus responds in a surprising way: by calling a child and placing him in their midst.

Children embody certain traits of dependency that place them beneath adults: they are small in stature, have little experience, are often unable to answer for their actions, cannot fend for themselves… And yet Jesus says: "Amen I say to you, unless you be converted, and become as little children, you shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, he is the greater in the kingdom of heaven."

For God, we are all little creatures. Before his loving gaze, human degrees of importance are overturned; social ranks and labels fade away. The Master helps us understand that accepting our condition will not humiliate or diminish us. On the contrary, it can lead us to great heights of grandeur and holiness, because we are his children. In this sense, St. Josemaría advised: "Before God, who is eternal, you are much more a child than, before you, the tiniest toddler. And besides being a child, you are a child of God. — Don't forget it." (The Way, no. 860).

Many of our worries can be put in proper perspective if we know how to abandon ourselves like little children who need the constant care of their Father. God builds great holiness on the humble awareness of our own smallness, and He will make it important, effective, and valuable.