Dear Friend,
In the Gospel for this Sunday (Matthew 18:1-10), Jesus continues teaching His disciples about the kingdom of God (the kingdom of Heaven, as written by Matthew). The disciples wanted to know and therefore asked Jesus, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of Heaven?"
Please read this Gospel to your family and talk about its highlights for them to understand what Jesus is telling His disciples.
To the Jews of that time, to be great is to have prestige and status. His disciples would think no differently. They would think that their association with Jesus would give them that prestige and status.
The mother of James and John might not have been with them when Jesus gave them this teaching as she wanted her sons to sit beside Him in His reign (Matthew 20:21).
The disciples were surprised with the answer of Jesus: "Whoever makes himself lowly, becoming like this child, is of greatest importance in that heavenly reign."
How could a lowly person like a little child be the greatest in the kingdom of God?
A child is totally dependent on his parents, his father and mother. A child, therefore, represents everyone without any prestige nor status in society, a helpless individual. During that time, and even today, these were the poor, the beggars, the oppressed, the sick, the prostitutes and tax-collectors.
They were the last, the least and the lost. The disciples must have remembered what Jesus said to the Pharisees when they found Him eating with sinners and tax-collectors: "I did not come to call the righteous but sinners" (Matthew 9:11-13). Jesus valued their humanity, and not prestige, the "godly" value of people, and not the "worldly" value of prestige.
We must also remember that Jesus came to our world as a little child under the loving care of Mary and Joseph. He did not grow up in a palace like Moses. His first guests were Gentiles and the lowly shepherds. He was ignored by His own people. Jesus went through this humble experience to show us His humanity.
Please lead the family in a meditation on the humanity of Jesus.
Meditation ~
As a child, Jesus grew up with Mary and Joseph experiencing full trust in the Lord. They did not seek prestige nor status in life. Joseph was a carpenter and Jesus was his son. Jesus learned from them.
Jesus wanted us to be that child under "Mary and Joseph" and be members of a holy family. The first lesson Jesus wants the family to learn is the "humility of a child."
What are my concerns? What are my pursuits in life to find happiness? How similar am I with the disciples of Jesus wanting to be the greatest in the kingdom, thinking status and prestige would make them the greatest?
Contemplation ~
Imagine yourself in the company of the disciples of Jesus wanting to know who is the greatest in the kingdom of God and listen to the answer of Jesus: "Whoever makes himself lowly, becoming like this child, is of greatest importance in that heavenly reign."
Feel the disappointment of the disciples and their desire to be healed.
Family Response ~
Talk about what you learned from Jesus and how each one may show humility to each one in the family.
Joe & Charito
THE CATHOLIC ARCHDIOCESE OF MANILA'S
ONLINE RESOURCE FOR FAMILY MINISTRIES
www.simbahayan.org
servants@simbahayan.org
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