Greetings on this the Tuesday of the Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time
Readings: EZ 2:8—3:4; PS 119:14, 24, 72, 103, 111, 131; MT 18:1-5, 10, 12-14
Notes:
In all our striving, being humble is our core perspective.
How difficult that can be!
But how obvious it is when we are not. Let us take the gospel portion as example:
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.
A child (we are all child, unless you claim some supernatural origin).
No matter what, all are child.
He explains another way:
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?
And if he finds it, amen, I say to you, he rejoices more over it than over the ninety-nine that did not stray. In just the same way, it is not the will of your heavenly Father that one of these little ones be lost.”
Humility is:
- Scripture and Prayer – by the divine will we have any effect!
- Protection and Shelter – each is a child needing care.
- Seeking and returning – those lost to difficulty deserve our attention and effort.
- Seeing yourself as one and the same with others in one to three above.
First reading
Son of man, he then said to me,
feed your belly and fill your stomach
with this scroll I am giving you.
I ate it, and it was as sweet as honey in my mouth. He said: Son of man, go now to the house of Israel, and speak my words to them.
Speak to your proximity with the sweetness of the word of the Lord.
Responsorial Psalm
How sweet to my taste is your promise!
Alleluia Verse
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart.
Gospel Portion
Who is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven?
He called a child over, placed it in their midst, and said, “Amen, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will not enter the Kingdom of heaven.
Whoever becomes humble like this child
is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven. And whoever receives one child such as this in my name receives me.
Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry
Deacon Gerry Palermo 