Whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven

 At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, "Who then is the 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.

"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 tow 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

Yesterday we read that, while they were staying in Galilee, Jesus said to the disciples, "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.  When they had come to Capernaum, those who received the temple tax came to Peter and said, "Does your Teacher not pay the temple tax?"  He said, "Yes."  And when he had come into the house, Jesus anticipated him, saying, "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 its 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 the 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."  My study bible says that the question of the disciples indicates a selfish interest in worldly power.  Perhaps the second warning Jesus has told them about His death and Resurrection (see yesterday's reading, above) has caused the disciples to anticipate the imminence of the Kingdom.  They assume a manifestation of a worldly kingdom, as was expected of the Messiah.  Pointing to a little child as the model of true discipleship, Jesus emphasizes the virtues required for entrance into the kingdom of heaven, my study bible tells us.  That is, humility, dependence, lowliness, simplicity, obedience, and a willingness to love and be loved.  In Orthodox icons of this event, St. Ignatius of Antioch is depicted as this child.  In certain legends of the saints,  St. Ignatius is the boy who gave the loaves and fishes (John 6:9).

"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!"  Little ones are all those who have childlike humility and simply, all who are poor in spirit.  That is, those who look to the Church for help and guidance.  Jesus is both cautioning and preparing His disciples for their roles as bishops and leaders of the Church to come.

"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."  Jesus teaches something quite similar in the Sermon on the Mount (5:29).  My study bible says that the reference to mutilation is an illustration of decisive action to avoid sin.  Jesus does not advocate literal amputation!  This is also a reference to harmful relationships that must be severed for the salvation of all parties (see Luke 14:26; 1 Corinthians 5:5).

Jesus begins to prepare the disciples for their leadership in the Church that is to come, after His death, Resurrection, and Ascension and the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost.  Here, His most important consideration is the little ones of the Church -- those who will need leadership and whose dependency upon the Church is for the salvation of their souls and guidance for their lives.  These are the precious commodities of the world, so to speak, those who need help, shelter, protection.  For their sake, it is necessary to take all action to prevent offenses.  If we think of foot, or hand, or eye, as Jesus suggests in His examples, we can also think of the sins of abuse of power that go with them.  A foot may go where it is unbidden, intrude over safe boundaries, violating the sanctity of a person or property.  A hand may grab what doesn't belong to a person, another violation of respect for others, especially of care for the little ones, those who have no worldly power or authority or rank.  An eye may look with a gaze that covets what does not belong to it, or in ways that suggest ownership rather than stewardship, conservatorship, or spiritual parent.  All of these things about which Jesus gives such a sharp warning are those things that violate good guidance and leadership.  They cast arbitrary goals and gains of selfishness over true wisdom and what it means to be a spiritual custodian of others, especially the littlest ones.  Jesus' words teach us about respect and the true spiritual liberation that belongs to each in Christ, wherein souls are meant to be guided to their highest good.  Among leadership of His Church, this requires the greatest discipline, and the willingness to sacrifice whatever stands in the way of His teachings for care of the littlest ones, those of all ages who are dependent upon spiritual leadership.  He gives us warning and guidance which apply to all of us, a way of being, and the character of power that is blessed.  May we continue to learn from Him, and put it into practice and understanding.