HOMILY FOR TUESDAY OF THE 19TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME CYCLE II
THEME: THE SIMPLICITY OF A CHILD.
BY: Fr. Karabari Paul
HOMILY FOR TUESDAY AUGUST 9 2022
‘Unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.’
In the Gospel of today (Matthew 18:1-5, 10. 12-14), Matthew writes: ‘The disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” He called a little child to him…And he said…“Unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”’
The world presents men and women of great achievements to imitate if we are to attain greatness. Jesus presents children to imitate. The world asks us to look up but the Kingdom wants us to look down. To do great things for God, you must approach Him with a childlike attitude. You can learn a lot from watching little children. Wherever they are, they find a way to enjoy whatever they are doing. They are quick to forgive an offence. One moment they are fighting over something, the next moment they are playing happily together. And trusting comes easily to them. They hardly perceive who is an enemy.
Children are dependent on other people. They depend on people for the basics in life: food, a place to sleep, safety…children can’t provide these things for themselves. They simply have to trust that someone else will give them the things that they need. Not only do we need to be like children in terms of accepting discipline and direction, we also need to be accepting of the fact that we are dependent on God. He is the One who can provide for us, not only for our physical needs but also for our spiritual needs. We are instructed not to worry: ‘Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear’ (Matthew 6:25). Instead, we need to ‘seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well’ (Matthew 6:33). We can trust Him to give us everything we need.
What is Jesus teaching us? a) To have simple faith. b) To pray simple prayers. c) To be quick to repent. d) To reach regularly for God’s help. e) To believe that your heavenly Father is good and that ‘no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly’ (Psalm 84:11). With this kind of simplicity in your relationship with God, you will find yourself growing spiritually and enjoying Him more than ever. And that should be your goal. GOD IS STILL ON THE THRONE. May God have mercy on us, heal our world, bless and protect us all through Christ Our Lord Amen. Good morning.
Fr. Karabari Paul
