19TH TUESDAY IN ORDINARY TIME - Gospel (Matthew 18:1-5, 10, 12-14) - THE WORD OF GOD FOR EVERYONE
- NHA CHUA CHA
- Aug 13
- 4 min read
FIRST READING - Dt 31:1-8
"Joshua! Be strong and steadfast, for you shall bring this people into the land which the Lord swore."
A reading from the book of Deuteronomy
1 When Moses had finished speaking these words to all Israel, 2 he said to them, I am now one hundred and twenty years old and am no longer able to go out and come in; besides, the Lord has said to me, Do not cross this Jordan. 3 It is the Lord, your God, who will cross before you; he will destroy these nations before you, that you may dispossess them. (It is Joshua who will cross before you, as the Lord promised.) 4 The Lord will deal with them just as he dealt with Sihon and Og, the kings of the Amorites, and with their country, when he destroyed them. 5 When, therefore, the Lord delivers them up to you, you shall deal with them according to the whole commandment which I have given you. 6 Be strong and steadfast; have no fear or dread of them, for it is the Lord, your God, who marches with you; he will never fail you or forsake you.
7 Then Moses summoned Joshua and in the presence of all Israel said to him, “Be strong and steadfast, for you shall bring this people into the land which the Lord swore to their ancestors he would give them; it is you who will give them possession of it. 8 It is the Lord who goes before you; he will be with you and will never fail you or forsake you. So do not fear or be dismayed.”
GOSPEL OF THE DAY - Mt 18:1-5, 10, 12-14
“See that you do not despise one of these little ones."
✠From the Gospel according to Matthew
1 At that time the disciples[b] approached Jesus and said, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” 2 He called a child over, placed it in their midst, 3 and said, “Amen, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children,[c] you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5 [d]And whoever receives one child such as this in my name receives me.
10 “See that you do not despise one of these little ones,[a] for I say to you that their angels in heaven always look upon the face of my heavenly Father.
12 What is your opinion? If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them goes astray, will he not leave the ninety-nine in the hills and go in search of the stray? 13 And if he finds it, amen, I say to you, he rejoices more over it than over the ninety-nine that did not stray. 14 In just the same way, it is not the will of your heavenly Father that one of these little ones be lost.
19TH TUESDAY IN ORDINARY TIME - Gospel (Matthew 18:1-5. 10. 12-14)
THE WORD OF GOD FOR EVERYONE
Dear People of God,
The Word of God in today's Gospel teaches the disciples and everyone a lesson: to enter the Kingdom of Heaven, one must live humbly, small, and simply like a child. God came to earth to accompany and teach people how to live in order to enter the Kingdom of Heaven, the most peaceful and happy place, and the place of eternal life. For God, He does not care about high or low, being great or small; but He wants to promote humility and self-abasement. He said, "Whoever wishes to be great must become the least among all."
In the Kingdom of Heaven, where God the Father reigns, He does not require people to do anything to become the greatest in His Kingdom; that is not important to God. As in the Gospel, the disciples asked Jesus: 'Who is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven?' He did not answer directly, frankly, for the disciples to know, but He said: If you want to enter the Kingdom of Heaven, you must become the smallest person, like a child. Becoming like a child means having a simple, lowly, humble life, lowering yourself before God and before your brothers and sisters.
God also shows humanity that in the Kingdom of God, He is the greatest, yet He became the lowest among all people, taking on the human condition like all other human beings. That is the self-emptying and humility of God.
In God, there is no pride, boasting, self-satisfaction, or complacency. Instead, He always lives in love and harmony with all people, without distinction between great and small. God desires that everyone imitate His way of loving, loving as He loves, and being meek and humble as He is—so that they may enter the Kingdom of Heaven.
Today’s Word of God seeks to emphasize to everyone that, in order to enter the Kingdom of Heaven, one must live a life of simplicity, humility, self-abasement, love, sacrifice, and forgiveness.
Love one another as Christ loves. This is what God has called His disciples, as well as all His children, to do.
Thanks be to God. Amen
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