WHO IS THE GREATEST IN THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN? ~ CookingFood.Org

“HONEY FROM THE ROCK”

Tuesday, 9^th August 2016,

Nineteenth Week of Ordinary Time

Ez 2:8 -3:4;

Ps 119:14, 24, 72, 103, 111, 131;

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

Memorial of St Teresa Benedicta of the Cross (Edith Stein), Virgin and Martyr

WHO IS THE GREATEST IN THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN?

There is a video on the internet about Matt Woodrum, titled “Disabled Boy in Last Place inspires everyone.” Matt could barely walk, yet he participates in a two lap race. When the race begins all the other athletes cross him and race to the finish. When he is halfway through the first lap, the others begin to overlap him. And even before he finishes the first lap, all others finished the race. But Matt does not stop, even when his gym master asks him to. He says he wants to finish the race. He doesn’t care which place, he just wants to finish the race. Seeing his morale, all the people gather round him and cheer “Go Matt, Go Matt.” Matt had taught all a lesson, “Winning doesn’t matter, finishing the race did.”

In today’s Gospel, we see the disciples asking Jesus; ‘Who is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?’ Matt gives us the answer: the least, the lost, the despised, the childlike, the disabled…. Men endowed with high intellect, responsibility, power or wealth when invited to a banquet, first consider: Who would be there? Where will be my place be among them? What honour would I receive? Whereas if a child, a crippled were invited for that banquet, they would consider themselves very lucky to be there. They knew for sure, they were not worthy of an invitation, but were invited by a gratuitous host.

The disciples too had fallen into the presumption that they were worthy of the Kingdom of God. That it was their right to be there, and to be in a high place. Whereas the children, did not even know that they would be partaking in the Kingdom. The disciples had no humility, they had lost sense of who they were. What about me and you? Do you think, you have a right to be in the Kingdom of Heaven? Are you waiting for a high place for all the ministry you are doing for God. If you wish to enter God’s kingdom, be like the little ones.

Prayer: Lord, Make my heart meek and humble like yours. Amen.