First Reading (Ezekiel 2,8-3,4)
Reading of Ezekiel’s Prophecy.
Thus says the Lord: “As for you, son of man, listen to what I say to you: Do not be rebellious like this rebellious group. Open your mouth and eat what I give you.” I looked, and there before me was a hand stretched out to me, and in his hand was a rolled-up scroll. He unrolled it before me; it was written on the front and back, and in it were dirges, lamentations, and woes. He said to me, “Son of man, eat what is before you; eat this scroll, and go and speak to the people of Israel.” I opened my mouth, and he made me eat the scroll. Then he said to me, “Son of man, feed your belly and satisfy your inmost being with this scroll that I give you.” I ate it, and it was as sweet as honey in my mouth. Then he said to me, “Son of man, go! Go to the house of Israel and speak to them with my words.”
– The word of the Lord.
– Thanks be to God.
Gospel (Matthew 18,1-5,10,12-14)
Proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Matthew.
— Glory to you, O Lord.
At that time, the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” Jesus called a little child to him and placed him in their midst. He said to them, “Truly, I tell you, unless you turn and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever makes himself as humble as this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever receives one such child in my name receives me. Do not despise one of these little ones, for I tell you that their angels in heaven always look on the face of my Father in heaven. What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them goes astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills to look for the one that is lost? Truly, I tell you, if he finds it, he rejoices more over it than over the ninety-nine that did not go astray. In the same way, my Father in heaven is not willing that one of these little ones should be lost.
— The Word of the Savior.
— Glory to you, Lord.
Reflecting the Word of God
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
Imagine a small child, eyes bright with curiosity, stretching out his arms to be picked up. In this simple gesture, we see absolute trust, total vulnerability, and pure, unconditional love. It is with this image that Jesus surprises us today, challenging our preconceived notions about greatness and inviting us on a journey of spiritual transformation.
“Who is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?” the disciples ask, revealing their own ambitions and insecurities. How many times have we found ourselves asking this same question, perhaps not with words, but with our actions and attitudes? In a world that values power, prestige, and social status, it is natural for us to seek our own “greatness.”
But Jesus, in His infinite wisdom, turns this concept upside down. He calls a child, places him in their midst, and says, “Truly I tell you, unless you turn and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”
What a revolutionary statement! Jesus is not glorifying immaturity or naivety, but highlighting essential qualities that children naturally possess and that we often lose as we grow up: humility, trust, openness to love and the wonder of the world around us.
Think for a moment: When was the last time you were amazed by something? When did you trust completely, without reservation? When did you feel truly humble, recognizing your total dependence on God?
Jesus continues, “Whoever makes himself as little as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” Being “little” here does not mean diminishing ourselves or denying our gifts and talents. Rather, it means recognizing that everything we have and are comes from God, and living in gratitude and dependence on Him.
It’s like a child who knows he needs his parents for everything—food, shelter, love—and yet doesn’t feel diminished by it. On the contrary, he thrives in that dependence, growing in security and love.
But Jesus doesn’t stop there. He gives us a solemn warning: “See that you do not despise one of these little ones.” In a world that often marginalizes the vulnerable—the poor, the sick, the elderly, children—Jesus places immense value on every soul, especially the most fragile.
And then He presents us with one of the most beautiful and comforting images in Scripture: the parable of the lost sheep. “What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that is lost?”
Imagine this scene: a shepherd leaving 99 sheep safe in order to go and look for the one that is lost. From a purely economic standpoint, this makes no sense. But God’s love transcends human logic. He is the Good Shepherd who tirelessly seeks out each of us when we stray.
How many of us have felt lost at some point in our lives? Lost in doubts, in fears, in sins that imprison us? The good news is that we have a God who does not passively wait for our return, but actively goes out to find us.
And when he finds us? Jesus says, “Truly I tell you, he rejoices more over this sheep than over the ninety-nine that did not go astray.” What an extraordinary statement! God’s heart is filled with joy when we return to Him. There is no condemnation, no “I told you so,” just the pure joy of a Father who recovers a lost child.
Now let’s turn our attention to the first reading, where we find the prophet Ezekiel receiving a unique mission from God. “Son of man,” says the Lord, “eat what is before you; eat this scroll, and go speak to the house of Israel.”
What a powerful image! Ezekiel is called not just to read or study God’s Word, but to literally “eat” it, to incorporate it so completely that it becomes part of his very being. And what happens when he obeys? “I ate it, and it was sweet as honey in my mouth.”
Here we have a fascinating parallel with Jesus’ call to become like children. Just as a child trusts his parents implicitly, accepting the food offered to him, Ezekiel accepts God’s Word without question, incorporating it completely.
And just as a child finds delight in the simplest things, Ezekiel finds that God’s Word, even when it brings difficult messages, is “sweet as honey” in his mouth. He experiences the sweetness of being in communion with God, of being an instrument of His will.
Dear brothers and sisters, the call for us today is clear: we are to become like children in our relationship with God. This means trusting Him completely, even when we do not understand His ways. It means marveling at His creation and His daily blessings. It means accepting His Word not just with our minds, but with our whole beings, allowing it to transform us from the inside out.
But it doesn’t stop there. Just as Ezekiel was sent to speak to the house of Israel, we too are called to share God’s message of love and hope with the world around us. We are called to be “shepherds” to one another, actively seeking out those who are lost, rejoicing when they are found.
And how do we do this in our daily lives? Maybe it’s by noticing a coworker who seems to be struggling and offering a word of encouragement. It might be reaching out to an elderly neighbor who rarely receives visitors. Or maybe it’s simply listening with compassion to a friend who is going through a difficult time.
Remember: every act of kindness, every gesture of love, every word of hope that we share is like an echo of the love of the Good Shepherd, seeking and rescuing the lost.
And as we do this, we discover something wonderful: by becoming “little” in the eyes of the world—by serving, loving, caring for others—we become “great” in the eyes of God. By emptying ourselves, we are filled. By giving, we receive abundantly. May we then accept Jesus’ invitation to become like little children. May we trust our heavenly Father fully, marvel at His love, and depend wholly on His grace. May we “eat” His Word, allowing it to become part of our innermost being, transforming us from the inside out. And as we do so, may we be instruments of His love in the world, seeking out the lost, caring for the little ones, and reflecting the light of Christ everywhere we go. May the Lord bless us with the innocence of a child, the courage of a prophet, and the loving heart of a shepherd. May He give us eyes to see His presence in every person we meet, especially the most vulnerable. And may we, at the end of our journey, hear the sweet words of our Savior: “Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.” Amen.
