Today's Reflections
The Greatest in the Kingdom
Mt 18:1-5, 10, 12-14
1[One time,] the disciples approached Jesus and said, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” 2He called a child over, placed it in their midst, 3and said, “Amen, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. 4Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5And whoever receives one child such as this in my name receives me.
10“See
that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that
their angels in heaven always look upon the face of my heavenly Father.
12What is your opinion? If a man has a hundred sheep and one
of them goes astray, will he not leave the ninety-nine in the hills and
go in search of the stray? 13And if he finds it, amen, I say to you, he rejoices more over it than over the ninety-nine that did not stray. 14In just the same way, it is not the will of your heavenly Father that one of these little ones be lost.”
Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
The disciples think as human beings do. Concerned about their place in a
hierarchy, they ask Jesus, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of
heaven?” In reply, Jesus calls a child over and holds it up as a model.
Why is a child’s humble status equated with being the greatest in God’s
eyes? In Jesus’ time as in ours children do not have a voice in society.
They cannot decide for themselves and are totally dependent on their
parents. They are in no position to assert their rights. Lowly of heart,
they are neither proud nor vainglorious. Dependence on and trust in God
and openness to his will are the childlike qualities that are pleasing
to God.
The
parable of the lost sheep elaborates on the theme. In speaking about
the sheep that goes astray, Jesus emphasizes not only the joy of finding
the lost sheep but the act of searching for it. He is telling us that
the greatest in the kingdom of heaven do not only possess the humility
of the little ones but also actively seek the lost, the least, and the
last among us.
“If words are to enter men’s minds and bear fruit,
they must be the right words shaped cunningly
to pass men’s defenses and explode silently and effectually within their minds”
(J.B. Phillips, writer and clergyman).
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