The "little ones" are those who approach God with the humility,

openness, and trust of a child,

rather than the pride or self-reliance of the "wise" who have rejected divine authority.

 

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊     

Isaiah 11:1-10

From the stump of Jesse,

A shoot will come forth; from his roots a branch will grow and bear fruit.

The spirit of the Lord will rest upon him – a spirit of wisdom and understanding, a spirit of counsel and power, a spirit of knowledge and fear of the Lord.

Not by appearances will he judge, nor by what is said must he decide, but with justice he will judge the poor and with righteousness decide for the meek.

Like a rod, his word will strike the oppressor, and the breath of his lips slay the wicked.

 

Justice will be the girdle of his waist, truth the girdle of his loins. The wolf will dwell with the lamb, the leopard will rest beside the kid,

the calf and the lion cub will feed together and a little child will lead them. Befriending each other,

the cow and the bear will see their young ones lie down together. Like cattle, the lion will eat hay.

 

By the cobra's den the infant will play. The child will put his hand into the viper's lair.

No one will harm or destroy over my holy mountain, for as water fills the sea the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord.

On that day the "Root of Jesse" will be raised as a signal for the nations.

The people will come in search of him, thus making his dwelling place glorious.

 

Ps 72:1-2, 7-8, 13-13, 17

Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace for ever.

 

＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊     

Luke 10:21-24

At that time, Jesus was filled with the joy of the Holy Spirit, and said, "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth,

for you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and made them known to little ones.

Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will. I have been given all things by my Father,

so that no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son, and he to whom the Son chooses to reveal him."

Then Jesus turned to his disciples and said to them privately, "Fortunate are you to see what you see,

for I tell you, that many prophets and kings would have liked to see what you see, but did not see it; and to hear what you hear, but did not hear it."

 

Gospel Reflection ：

"The little ones."

Thomas à Kempis wrote in his Imitation of Christ that "To be learned and able to discuss the Trinity

will get you nowhere if you do not have humility, and therefore displease the Holy Trinity."

Jesus praises his Father for revealing the things of the Kingdom of Heaven to the little ones, and not to the "wise and learned."

We are not to see this as a rejection of learning and human inquiry, nor a challenge to wisdom in the religious sense,

since this is praised by Christ. Rather his words are a challenge against pride.

 

This is why the contrast is made to "the little ones," to those who are humble. Humility is key to recognizing the limitations of our understanding,

no matter how much we know. The virtue of humility allows us to be open to being led and taught by the Lord.

This spiritual insight is a gift of the Holy Spirit. Through the gifts of the Holy Spirit, first listed by Isaiah,

our insight is graced and elevated, so that we're more attuned to God's ways. This allows us to choose the more loving way in imitation of Christ.