Catholic Daily Mass Reading & Meditation for Thursday, 2 October 2014Meditations: Matthew 18: Whoever Becomes Simple Again
1 At about the same time, the disciples came to Jesus asking, “Who gets the highest rank in God’s kingdom?”
2-5 For an answer Jesus called over a child, whom he stood in the middle of the room, and said, “I’m telling you, once and for all, that unless you return to square one and start over like children, you’re not even going to get a look at the kingdom, let alone get in. Whoever becomes simple and elemental again, like this child, will rank high in God’s kingdom. What’s more, when you receive the childlike on my account, it’s the same as receiving me.
10 “Watch that you don’t treat a single one of these childlike believers arrogantly. You realize, don’t you, that their personal angels are constantly in touch with my Father in heaven?
The Holy Guardian Angels
Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 18:4)
Have you ever seen a child jump fearlessly into a pool toward the outstretched arms of her father or mother? Blissfully trusting in her parent’s protection, she is filled with confidence! This image of happy freedom can help us grasp the sense of security and peace we can know as children of God.
When Jesus called us to become like little children, he was saying that he wants us to regain some of our childhood innocence. When we were very young, we found it easy to believe in a good God who watches over us and sends angels to protect us. As we grow older, however, such comforting images fade, and we tend to lose our sense of wonder. Life wears us down and tempts us to become cynical about the closeness of God and the reality of our guardian angels. Faced with the inevitable pressures of adulthood, we may begin to believe—or resign ourselves to the belief—that we have no one to help us but ourselves. For better or for worse, we consider ourselves to be the masters of our fate.
Don’t let that happen! Let Jesus awaken in you that joy and innocence you knew as a child—the same joy and innocence you felt when you first experienced his love. Christian maturity is not a matter of increased independence from God; it’s a deeper dependence on him! Even as an adult, you are still incapable of one day’s existence apart from his mercy and grace. From your first breath to your last, it is God who provides for your health, your relationships, your finances, your very life!
So ask the Holy Spirit to do a special work in you today. Ask him to help you view everything that happens today with the eyes of a child who relies on his or her Father’s love. Know that your heavenly Father wants you to come to him with every concern, no matter how small, and trust that his angels are watching over you. Let him reassure you with his love and support.
“Holy Spirit, help me to become more like a child as I look to the Father for my strength and my needs. Teach me how to trust in your provision and heavenly protection.” Amen!
Job 19:21-22 “Oh, friends, dear friends, take pity on me.
God has come down hard on me!
Do you have to be hard on me, too?
Don’t you ever tire of abusing me?
23-27 “If only my words were written in a book—
better yet, chiseled in stone!
Still, I know that God lives—the One who gives me back my life—
and eventually he’ll take his stand on earth.
And I’ll see him—even though I get skinned alive!—
see God myself, with my very own eyes.
Oh, how I long for that day!
Psalm 27:7-9 Listen, God, I’m calling at the top of my lungs:
“Be good to me! Answer me!”
When my heart whispered, “Seek God,”
my whole being replied,
“I’m seeking him!”
Don’t hide from me now!
9-10 You’ve always been right there for me;
don’t turn your back on me now.
Don’t throw me out, don’t abandon me;
you’ve always kept the door open.
My father and mother walked out and left me,
13-14 I’m sure now I’ll see God’s goodness
in the exuberant earth.
Stay with God!
Take heart. Don’t quit.
I’ll say it again:
Stay with God.
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