the Guardian Angels 

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊     

Baruch 4:5-12, 27-29

Take courage, my people,

You who preserve the memory of Israel. You have been sold to the nations but not for your destruction; because you had aroused the anger of God, you were delivered to your enemies. For you displeased your Creator in sacrificing to demons and not to God. 

You have forgotten the Eternal God, the one who nourished you. You have filled Jerusalem with sadness, she who brought you up. For she saw the anger of God fall on you and she said, “Listen, you neighboring cities of Zion, God has sent me a great sorrow.

 I have seen the captivity of my sons and daughters, which the Eternal one brought on them. I had nurtured them in joy; with tears and sadness I saw them leave. Let no one rejoice on seeing me a widow and abandoned by all. Because of the sins of my children I am now alone, because they have turned away from the law of God.

 Take courage, my children, cry out to God, for he who sent you into exile will re­member you.  Thus, as you distanced yourself from God, return to him and seek him ten times more earnestly. For he who caused these evils to fall on you will bring you salvation and eternal joy.

 

Ps 69:33-35, 36-37

The Lord listens to the poor.

 

＊＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊＊    

Matthew 18:1-5, 10

 At that time the disciples came to Je­sus and asked him, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”

 Then Jesus called a little child, set the child in the midst of the disciples,  and said, “I assure you that unless you change and become like little children, you cannot enter the kingdom of heaven.   Whoever becomes lowly like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven,   and whoever receives such a child in my name receives me.

 See that you do not despise any of these little ones, for I tell you: their angels in heaven continually see the face of my heavenly Father.

  

Gospel Reflection：

While the disciples more interested to the roles they will play in the coming Kingdom Jesus on the other hand is busy telling them of His eminent fate. He will suffer and die but rose again on the third day.

This teaching fell on deaf ears. The disciples are already positioning themselves into hierarchy. And so they ask Him who would be considered great in the kingdom of heaven. They need to spruce up their credentials in order to qualify.

Rather than provide qualifications for the greatest or talk about a hierarchical structure, Jesus takes a little child as an example of greatness. Heaven is not earned by superior qualities but by meekness, trust and humility.

These are necessary ingredients in order to love. These qualities are natural to a child who is still innocent about the wickedness of the world. And this is what the disciples must strive to achieve. To reclaim these childlike qualities that will enable them to master the art of love.