Today’s Gospel is from Saint Matthew 18:1-10

At that hour the disciples came to Jesus, saying: Who thinkest thou is the greater in the kingdom of heaven?
And Jesus calling unto him a little child, set him in the midst of them,
And said: 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.
And he that shall receive one such little child in my name, receiveth me.
But he that shall scandalize one of these little ones that believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone should be hanged about his neck, and that he should be drowned in the depth of the sea.
Woe to the world because of scandals. For it must needs be that scandals come: but nevertheless woe to that man by whom the scandal cometh.
And if thy hand, or thy foot scandalize thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee. It is better for thee to go into life maimed or lame, than having two hands or two feet, to be cast into everlasting fire.
And if thy eye scandalize thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee. It is better for thee having one eye to enter into life, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire.
See that you despise not one of these little ones: for I say to you, that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father who is in heaven.

In our reading today, Jesus’ disciples asked the question: “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” This question reveals a common human desire for status, recognition, importance and ultimately entitlement. It’s a question that occupies the minds of many people today. People want to be great, to achieve greatness, to leave their mark on the world. But Jesus, as always, offers the right answer. In response to their question, He calls forth a little child and places the child in the midst of them. What a powerful and unexpected gesture! In the society of that time, children were not seen as particularly significant or esteemed. Yet, in this simple action, Jesus teaches us about the nature of greatness in the Kingdom of heaven.

Jesus said: “Amen I say to you unless you be converted and become as little children, you shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.” This teaching means that greatness in the eyes of God is not measured by worldly standards of power, wealth, or prestige. Instead, it’s measured by childlike qualities such as humility, innocence, trust, and dependence. Little children are humble, knowing that they rely on their parents for everything. They are innocent, unburdened by the cynicism and self-centredness that can creep into the hearts of adults. They trust without reservation, and they depend on the love and care of their parents or guardians. Think about that for a moment. When Jesus tells us to become like little children, He is inviting us to embrace these qualities in our spiritual walk. He is asking us to be humble, recognising our complete dependence upon God. He calls us to be innocent, free from the burdens of sin and selfishness, and to trust in God’s providence with a childlike faith. Here, Jesus emphasizes that those who humble themselves as the little child will be the greater in the kingdom of heaven. In God’s plan, greatness is found in humility. It’s not about being first or the most powerful; it’s about being the servant of all.

Our Lord goes on to say that whoever receives a little child in His name receives Him. This is a call to treat each person, especially the vulnerable, with the love and respect we would offer to Christ Himself. Conversely, those who cause harm or scandal to others, especially the “little ones” who believe in Him, face severe consequences.

In the verses that follow, Jesus uses strong language to emphasise the seriousness of avoiding sin and scandal. He speaks of cutting off a hand or foot or plucking out an eye if they cause us to sin. While these words are most certainly metaphorical, they accentuate the gravity of sin and the need for complete detachment from anything that leads us away from God. Jesus reminds us not to despise the “little ones” because their angels always see the face of God. Each person, no matter how seemingly insignificant in the eyes of the world, is precious to God. We are called to protect, nurture, and love one another, especially those who are vulnerable.

The path to greatness in the Kingdom of heaven is through humility, childlike trust, and a love that embraces the least among us. May everyone of us sincerely strive to become like little children in our faith and relationship with God. Let’s protect and care for the vulnerable, and let’s always remember that in serving others, we are serving Christ Himself.

May God bless you +
Fr. Charles
29 September – Dedication of St. Michael Archangel