St. Jerome, Priest  & doctor 

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊

Zechariah 8: 1-8

 The word of Yahweh, the God of hosts was directed to me in this way,

 “I am intensely jealous for Zion, stirred by a burning anger for her sake.  Yahweh says: I will return to Zion and live in her midst. Jerusalem shall be called the City of faithfulness and the Mountain of holiness.”

Yah­­weh,God of hosts speaks,“Old men and women will again sit in the squares, each with a stick in hand on account of their great age.  The squares of the city will be filled with girls and boys playing.”

Yahweh, God of hosts declares, “If that seems impossible in the eyes of those who have returned from exile, will it be impossible for me as well?” – word of Yahweh.

Yahweh, God of hosts says, “See, I am going to save my people,  bringing them from the east and from the west and they will live in Jerusalem. They will be my people and I shall be their God in truth and in justice.”

 

＊＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊＊

Luke 9:46-50

 One day the disciples were arguing about which of them was the most impor­tant.   But Jesus knew their thoughts, so he took a little child and stood him by his side.  Then he said to them, “Whoever welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me, welcomes the one who sent me.

And listen: the one who is found to be the least among you all, is the one who is the greatest.”Then John spoke up, “Master, we saw someone who drove out demons by calling upon your name, and we tried to forbid him because he doesn’t follow you with us.”  But Jesus said, “Don’t forbid him. He who is not against you is for you.”

 

 Reflection gospel：

“WHO IS THE GREATEST.”

Jesus sets for us the criterion for greatness, that is the welcoming of God into our lives, through the welcoming of Jesus, and ultimately the welcoming of the little ones of our day, namely: those who are put to the margin and those who are neglected. And they may include those ordinary people who walk into our lives.

The welcoming of God may be construed as the acceptance and embracing of the good news of God’s saving love of all creation that is effected in Jesus and translated into works of justice, peace and integrity of creation. This welcoming entails acts of service to all that God loves. We are the greatest when we promote the interest of justice, peace, and mercy.

Given the above considerations, our simple, random acts of kindness and service to others, and our actions of caring for God’s creation and protecting it may be the measure of greatness in the reign of God. They do not really need recognition as being great because they are simply great before God.