Matthew 18:1-5, 10

Job 9:1-12, 14-16

Psalm 88:10bc-11, 12-13, 14-15

Matthew 18:1-5, 10

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 humbles himself 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.”

Opening Prayer: Heavenly Father, I thank you for my guardian angel. I look forward to meeting them one day in heaven. They protect me and inspire me with good things. May I always be attentive and docile to their voice.

Encountering the Word of God

1. Eliphaz and Job: In the Book of Job, each of Job’s three friends – Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar – attempted to explain to Job why he was suffering. In his first speech (Job 4:1-5:27), Eliphaz argued that Job was suffering because he sinned. Eliphaz believed that God punished sinners with suffering and rewarded the righteous with blessing. And so, because Job was suffering, this meant that Job sinned in some way and was not in a right relationship with God. When Job responded to Eliphaz (Job 6:1-7:21), he told his friends that he felt abandoned by them (Job 6:14-21). “From the depths of his soul, [Job] pleads to know what sin he has committed (6:24) and why the Almighty seems to withhold forgiveness (7:21). Death appears to be his only hope for relief (6:8-9)” (Ignatius Catholic Study Bible: Job, 22).

2. Bildad and Job: Job’s second friend, Bildad, spoke after Eliphaz and Job. In his first speech (Job 8:1-22), Bildad reiterated what Eliphaz said about sinners being punished with suffering. The possibility of innocent suffering finds no place in Bildad’s theology. Bildad “is right to assert that God will recompense each person for his deeds (Ps 62:12), but he is wrong to contend that all suffering is necessarily a punishment for sin. Scripture teaches that God sometimes sends trials to strengthen our faith, to show us our needs, to test our patience, to increase our virtue” (Ignatius Catholic Study Bible: Job, 24). Today’s First Reading contains part of Job’s response to Bildad (Job 9:1-10:22). Job asks for a day in court to establish his innocence (Job 9:15). He states that he does not question God’s wisdom or power, but he does question God’s justice. Job declares that he is not aware of having committed any sin but, at the same time, appeals to God’s mercy.

3. Humility in the Kingdom of Heaven: In the Gospel, Jesus teaches his disciples that greatness in the Kingdom of Heaven is not like greatness in an earthly kingdom. If we view things from a worldly perspective, we tend to measure greatness in terms of strength, wealth, physical beauty, and achievement. Jesus, however, does not point to Caesar or to a wealthy person of power to show who is great. Rather, he points to a child to indicate true spiritual greatness. How, then, do we turn and become like children? When we see a child, we see how they depend so much on their parents and guardians. They are often innocent, simple, humble, and full of joy and laughter. Am I dependent, like a child, upon my Heavenly Father?

Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, you are meek and humble of heart. Help me to learn how to be humble and simple like an innocent child. The devil likes to complicate things in an effort to deceive me. Help me cut through the deception and love you with an undivided heart.

Living the Word of God: Am I complicated or simple? Arrogant or humble? Self-sufficient or reliant upon God? Am I looking to grow in the esteem of others or to please my Heavenly Father? Am I cold and calculating or full of joy and love?