Monday, August 10, 2015

19th Week, Ordinary Time, Tuesday, 11-08-15

Deuteronomy 31:1-8 / Matthew 18:1-5, 10, 12-14

Whenever we hear the word "great" what usually comes to our minds are size, strength, power, ability, achievements, etc.

That is usually how we understand the word "great". It seems to be even more than good. 

Between a good place and a great place, it is quite obvious which is more in the qualitative as well as in the quantitative sense of the word.

Yet in the spiritual sense of the word, greatness does not seem to have much association with the ideas and concepts above.

Greatness, in the spiritual sense, is associated with littleness and humility.

And in the gospel, Jesus sets before us a symbol of this greatness - a little child.

And He even taught us that unless we change and become like little children, we will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

In the 1st reading, we heard that the Israelites were about to cross the Jordan and enter the Promised Land.

Moses addressed the people and he made it clear to them that the Lord God will cross it before them and lead them into the land that He promised as their inheritance.

Yet, they must follow the Lord in littleness and humility like a child.

Likewise, in littleness and humility, we will be able to follow the Lord into our eternal Promised Land.