Matthew 18:1-5, 10, 12-14

Ezekiel 2:8-3:4

Psalm 119:14, 24, 72, 103, 111, 131

Matthew 18:1-5, 10, 12-14

The disciples approached Jesus and said,

“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.

“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.

What 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?

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.”

Opening Prayer: Lord God, I need to learn the lesson of true humility. I need to see myself as I really am: with my unique gifts and talents and personality, with my faults and tendencies. Help me to act as your child and as a servant to my brothers and sisters.

Encountering the Word of God

1. The Prophetic Commission of Isaiah and Jeremiah: When the prophet Isaiah saw the vision of the Lord in the Temple, he confessed himself a man of unclean lips. His lips were purified by a burning coal taken by a seraphim from the altar. Purified of his sin and guilt, Isaiah responded to God’s request for someone to be sent to prophesy to the people: “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then I said, ‘Here am I! Send me’” (Isaiah 6:6-8). The prophet Jeremiah also heard God’s word appointing him a prophet to the nations. He said to God: “Behold, I do not know how to speak; for I am only a youth.” The Lord told him not to worry about his youth, for he would be with him to deliver him from those to whom the prophet speaks. Then the Lord put forth his hand and touched Jeremiah's mouth saying: “Behold, I have put my words in your mouth. See, I have set you this day over nations and over kingdoms, to pluck up and to break down, to destroy and to overthrow, to build and to plant” (Jeremiah 1:4-10). 

2. The Prophetic Commission of Ezekiel and John: Ezekiel’s prophetic call and purification happened in a similar fashion. He was told not to be like the rebellious house of Israel. That rebellious house refused to listen to the words of the Lord and make them their own. That is why Ezekiel is given a scroll to eat. His message to the House of Israel was one of lamentation, mourning, and woe. God told Ezekiel that Israel would refuse to listen to him because they were unwilling to listen to God himself. The House of Israel was of a hard forehead and of a stubborn heart. Ezekiel was to receive God’s word in his heart and hear God’s word with his ears (Ezekiel 3:4-11). In the Book of Revelation, John will also eat a scroll: “So I went to the angel and told him to give me the little scroll; and he said to me, ‘Take it and eat; it will be bitter to your stomach, but sweet as honey in your mouth.’ And I took the little scroll from the hand of the angel and ate it; it was sweet as honey in my mouth, but when I had eaten it my stomach was made bitter. And I was told, ‘You must again prophesy about many peoples and nations and tongues and kings’” (Revelation 10:9-11).

3. God’s Purifying Word: The lesson that we can draw from all four is that God’s word is a purifying word, that is heard with our ears and penetrates our hearts. God’s word is a word that sends us out to the nations, to be witnesses to his love and to the resurrection of Jesus. Jesus will characterize our hearts like soil that is either rocky, trampled underfoot, filled with thorns, or fertile. Some hear God’s word without understanding it; others accept it for a time but are soon consumed by the world; others reject it outright and choose to delight in the riches of the world; others welcome it and allow it to bear fruit in their lives. One way to make sure that we welcome God’s word into our heart is to be simple, humble, and childlike. A complex, calculating, prideful, and hardened heart has no room for God’s word because it is full of itself. A simple heart focuses on the essential – love for God and love for neighbor. A humble heart recognizes and is thankful for all the good things received from the Father. A child-like heart is ready to be taught by God and molded by the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Ezekiel was sent out to the rebellious house of Israel, now in exile in Babylon. Jesus was sent to the lost sheep of Israel and gathered them in by appointing the twelve apostles and being raised up. The Holy Spirit filled the disciples in the upper room and gave them the strength, power, and courage to go out to all the world in order to preach the Gospel to all nations and baptize them. 

Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, thank you for going out to find me when I stray. I am comforted knowing that you will put me on your shoulders and bring me back to the flock. Protect me from all evil and call my name so that I may return to you always.

Living the Word of God: The Holy Spirit gives us his gifts and urges all of us to continue this mission, so that all men and women may enter the Kingdom of heaven. Which of the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit do I most need: fear of the Lord, piety, fortitude, knowledge, understanding, wisdom, counsel?