Unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven

At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, "Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them, and said, "Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

"Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me. But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea.

"Woe to the world because of offenses! For offenses must come, but woe to that man by whom the offense comes! If your hand or foot causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life lame or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet, to be cast into the everlasting fire. And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes, to be cast into hell fire."

- Matthew 18:1-9

In yesterday's reading, Jesus was journeying in Galilee. First we read of Jesus once again telling His disciples what is to come: " The Son of Man is about to be betrayed into the hands of men, and they will kill Him, and the third day He will be raised up." And they were exceedingly sorrowful. Later when they reached Capernaum, Peter was approached by the collectors of the temple tax. They asked, "Does your Teacher not pay the temple tax?" He replied, "Yes." When he had come into the house, Jesus anticipated him. He said, "What do you think, Simon? From whom do the kings of the earth take customs or taxes, from their sons or from strangers?" Peter said to Him, "From strangers." Jesus said to him, "Then the sons are free. Nevertheless, lest we offend them, go to the sea, cast in a hook, and take the fish that comes up first. And when you have opened his mouth, you will find a piece of money; take that and give it to them for Me and you."

At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, "Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them, and said, "Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven." As the disciples begin to grow in power in their work in His ministry, they come to Jesus with questions of hierarchy, rank, competition. Who is greatest in the kingdom of heaven? It's a logical question, considering the way kingdoms are usually ruled. But it is important, as we've seen from yesterday's reading and commentary, to distinguish this kingdom from the way the world runs. Christ's answer in that context is astonishing. It's the little children who are models of what it is to be able to enter this kingdom. It is a message of humility - the opposite of the stress on those who would "lord it over" others, who feel themselves to be great. To even enter into this kingdom, one must be like the little child: capable of accepting personal change, wisdom from another source beyond oneself, learning and adapting to a model we don't already know, to being taught, our minds open to new things, a better way. In this sense, we are to be like little children even in order to enter into this kingdom. My study bible says that little children have the spiritual attitudes required to enter the kingdom: "humility, dependence, lowliness and simplicity. Humility, without which there is no virtue at all, is the acknowledgment of divine grace and mercy, and the constant denial of man's achievement." They ask who is greatest, and Jesus tells them that those who can be as humble as a little child are the greatest.

"Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me. But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea." Those who come to the Church with this attitude, this willingness to learn, and openness to God's love, must be welcomed with the greatest care. How are they taught, and what do they learn? In the context of the reading, Jesus is strictly warning the disciples that those who would be leaders in His church have a great responsibility - and a purpose to the humility they must cultivate. My study bible puts it this way: "The little ones are the humble and simple, who may be ignored or offended by more influential members of the Church, against whom Jesus issues severe warnings. Scandals may be inevitable, but those who cause them will be punished by God." Do they want positions of leadership to add something that makes them great, like a new entry in a resume? To tell others what to do? Leadership is for the care and service of the little ones; to be good leaders, it is essential to be able to teach what service is, and what this kingdom is. To misuse one's position carries the most severe penalty.

"Woe to the world because of offenses! For offenses must come, but woe to that man by whom the offense comes! If your hand or foot causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life lame or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet, to be cast into the everlasting fire. And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes, to be cast into hell fire." As leaders in the Church, they are to be aware of their own weaknesses and temptations. We go back to the earlier readings in Matthew's Gospel, after the Sermon on the Mount. He's repeating words we've been given before. The emphasis is once again on our choices. If there is something we covet, that we "rest our eye upon" and love which is wrong or bad for us, better to pluck out the eye and live without it. If we are tempted to misuse power, cut off the hand that feels the temptation. If we're really going to walk in a wrong direction, better to enter life in the kingdom lame or missing a foot than to misuse leadership to lead the others astray. My study bible also gives an understanding from a different facet or approach, that is just as important: "The reference to mutilating parts of the body suggests decisive action to avoid sin . . . For instance, we cut off relations with friends and others, if they are seriously harmful to the soul."

Often I think we are tempted too much to rely on Christ's mercy, and fail to understand His warnings about our own characters, what kind of people we are. These warnings cannot be taken without giving them the most serious consideration possible, given the tone of Jesus' words to His own disciples. Who are we and what are we? How are we living our lives? Are we living like those who must be of this kingdom, or are we living like those who would lord it over others - in a worldly sense of the "great?" What we have to see is how today's teachings apply to every moment of our lives. And while they are directed most specifically at the leadership, for that is what these disciples will be and have asked about, they are actually given to each one of us who call ourselves His followers, for we are disciples too. Are we ready to enter here like little children? Are we ready to humble ourselves and understand that we, too, have things to learn, things we are blind to? Perhaps ways of living that need to be cast out entirely? These are not easy choices, hence His analogy to mutilating precious parts of the body without which we may think we don't really have a life: a hand, a foot, an eye. Therefore, He's not minimizing the difficulty and even the counter-intuitive feel to the places we may be called to go and sacrifices of personal preference or behavior we may be called upon to make. It's a question of being called into a community not governed by our usual understanding or preference, judgment, and hierarchy -- and therefore one in which we must be prepared to learn and to grow in new ways of being and knowing oneself. In this is the preparation of the saints, but also the great leadership that is called upon to be true shepherds. In discipleship, we serve Him, and all the things of this kingdom, and not merely ourselves - even if we are solitary disciples, it is still in relation to Him and what He has to teach us, where He leads us. Consider today His warnings, and take them with the greatest care. How are you today like the little child, the one who can be led and taught? As little children, we are led and taught by the most loving Parent. But we accept that relationship, and must be open to it, like the little child.