Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me

 

 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 

 

Yesterday we read that while Jesus and the disciples were staying in Galilee, Jesus said to them, "The Son of Man is about to 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 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."  Let us first consider that by now Christ has given the disciples two warnings of His Passion that is to come at Jerusalem (see yesterday's reading, above).  They have, as yet, no idea what it means that He will be "raised up."  Perhaps they think that the coming of the Kingdom is imminent, and they expect it to be a worldly kingdom, and so they ask about their positions.  My study Bible comments that this question a selfish interest in worldly power.  Christ points to a little child as the model of true discipleship, and emphasizes the virtues necessary for entrance into the kingdom of heaven.  My study Bible lists these as humility, dependence, lowliness, simplicity, obedience, and a willingness to love and be loved.  In Orthodox iconography, St. Ignatius of Antioch is depicted as this child.  In certain legends of saints, he's the boy who gave the loaves and fishes (John 6:9).

 

 "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."  My study Bible explains that little ones include all who have childlike humility and simplicity, all who are poor in spirit.  

 

"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."  Jesus' reference to mutilation is meant to illustrate the need for decisive action in order to avoid sin -- and of course does not advocate literal amputation.  (He uses a similar illustration in the Sermon on the Mount, at Matthew 5:29.)  This also refers, according to my study Bible, to harmful relationships that need to be severed for the salvation of all parties (see Luke 14:26; 1 Corinthians 5:5).  

 

 It should be quite obvious how serious Jesus is about the deadly nature of offenses in today's reading, given the descriptions here of both woe to the offender ("it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea"), and the drastic measures referred to here to keep from committing those offenses ("It is better for you to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes, to be cast into hell fire").  Let us note that this conversation happens as Jesus has just given the second warning about what is to come in Jerusalem, and the disciples have begun asking questions about what positions of authority they will hold in His kingdom; that is, the earthly type kingdom they are expecting ("Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?")?  His first emphasis is on humility, a lesson to us all who seek to follow Him ("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").  So He first very explicitly uses a little child (perhaps St. Ignatius of Antioch) as an example to all the men of how they must approach the Kingdom.  Next, He reveals a stark warning against abuses of power; that is, offenses against the "little ones" ("Woe to the world because of offenses!  For offenses must come, but woe to that man by whom the offense comes!").  We must presume that because the disciples have just asked about positions of greatness in the Kingdom, this is Jesus' top priority -- that authority and rank in His Church not be used to abuse the little ones, the humble, including, of course, children.  If we think carefully about His words regarding mutilation to avoid sin which illustrates the dire importance of the problem, we may consider that He first mentions a hand or foot causing offense:  a hand may grasp what does not belong to it, it may reach out to take something, a foot can trespass over an important boundary and step where it doesn't belong.  An eye may gaze with lust or with envy or with greed to take something that doesn't belong to one.  These stand in for habits and offenses which will harm the powerless, the young, the small, and so Jesus here is speaking about the central importance of self-discipline, a willingness to change, and to discard habits that might be so ingrained -- or even feel so precious -- as to be a part of us like our eyes or limbs may be.  But it is up to us to learn the true discipline He desires if we are to follow Him.  This is, yet again, illustrative of another purpose for fasting, so that we learn self-mastery, a kind of ability not to indulge ourselves and not to be slaves of our passions, to say "No" to what we must reject even if it feels like an inalienable part of who we are.  We live in a world where so many of our desires may be instigated and catered to through modern telecommunications, instantaneous gratification being an objective "good" touted to us in popular culture.  But this is not the perspective of Jesus, and it is not truly the substance of what it takes to live good human lives, to build up our loves into something worthwhile and positive.  For that we need a discipline, we need to follow something or Someone who is going to take us to better lives and better communities, and that takes the discipline to say "No" to the things that tempt us with easy solutions to feel good, and not to do the work of self-discipline.  Let us reach toward Christ, to be the persons He calls us to be.  Let us cut off the habits and other things which cause harm, the easy indulgence, in exchange for the truly good:  for the humility to follow Him and learn as a child, and to enter into the kingdom of heaven, in order to assume whatever authority or grace He gives, and grow in His love and His teaching. Finally, let us recall His words: "Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me."  What greater concept of grace and gracious behavior can we receive than this?  To receive even one little child in His name is to receive Christ Himself.  Jesus gives us the tools for building our lives and communities on His grace.  Let us endeavor to reach the standards He teaches us. 

 

 

 

 

 

Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me

 

 "When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory.  All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats.  And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left.  Then the King will say to those on His right hand, "Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:  for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.'  Then the righteous will answer to Him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink?  When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You?   Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?'  And the King will answer and say to them, 'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.'  

 

"Then He will also say to those on the left hand, 'Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels:  for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink; I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.'  Then they also will answer Him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?  Then He will answer them, saying, 'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.'  And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."

 

- Matthew 25:31-46 

 

In our recent readings, Jesus has been prophesying to the disciples about the end of the age, and His return, at which time judgment will happen.  In yesterday's reading, He gave the following parable:  "For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them.  And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey.  Then he who had received the five talents went ad traded with them, and made another five talents.  And likewise he who had received two gained two more also.  But he who had received one went and dug in the ground, and hid his lord's money.  After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them.  So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, 'Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents besides them.'  His lord said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things.  Enter into the joy of your lord.'  He also who had received two talents came and said, 'Lord, you delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained two more talents besides them.'  His lord said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things.  Enter into the joy of your lord.'  Then he who had received the one talent came and said, 'Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed.  And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground.  Look, there you have what is yours.'  But his lord answered and said to him, 'You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed.  So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest.  Therefore take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents.  For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away.  And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness.  There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."

 

  "When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory."  Here begins what my study Bible calls the majestic climax of Christ's discourse.  It notes this is not simply a parable, but a prophesy of the universal judgment that is to come.  As the Cross is now near to Jesus, He is raising the hearer (His disciples and those who will follow) to the sight of the glory of the Son of Man on His judgment seat with the whole world before Him.  My study Bible declares that the standard of judgment shown here is uncalculated mercy toward others.  Those works which are produced by faith are emphasized here -- for, my study Bible says, saving faith always produces righteous works.  What we do is a reflection of our true inner state.  

 

"All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats.  And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left."  My study Bible informs us that Christ uses sheep in order to show the righteous, for they follow His voice and are gentle and productive.  Goats illustrate the unrighteous, in the sense that they do not follow the shepherd and they walk along cliffs, which represent sin.

 

"Then the King will say to those on His right hand, "Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:  for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.'"  Inherit, my study Bible tells us, is a term that is used with regard to sons and daughters rather than strangers or servants.  The righteous become children of God by adoption (Galatians 4:4-7).  

"Then the righteous will answer to Him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink?  When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You?   Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?'  And the King will answer and say to them, 'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.'"  My study Bible comments that to see Christ in everyone is the fulfillment of the great commandment to love your neighbor as yourself (Matthew 22:39).   Additionally, we should consider the least as all those who are poor and needy.  These needs here are not limited to physical needs, but also include spiritual ones.  

 

"Then He will also say to those on the left hand, 'Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels:  for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink; I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.'  Then they also will answer Him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?  Then He will answer them, saying, 'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.'  And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."  My study Bible says that as Jesus says the fire was prepared for the devil, it shows that God did not create hell for human beings.  But people choose this torment by their own coldness of heart.  Those who are hungry or thirsty, it also notes, are not simply ones who need food and drink -- but also those who hunger and thirst for the hope of the gospel.

 

 An interesting observation we can make here is the correlation between  the choosing of coldness of heart and aligning ourselves with spiritual forces of evil; that is, the devil and his angels, those for whom the everlasting fire was prepared.  Indeed, what does coldness of heart do in this sense?  It neglects to help those in need, it neglects to give love, it neglects compassion.  It neglects to hear the call of those who are harmed or hurt by bad behavior, and neglects to notice those harmed by bad policies or practices many will support because it is encouraged within a social community.  Coldness of heart renders one incapable of considering a "neighbor" to be one who is made of the same stuff one is, created as a human being by God.  It will teach us to neglect to make "neighbors" through our actions, like the Good Samaritan of the parable in Luke 10:25-37.  Coldness of heart renders one capable of thinking of fellow human beings only insofar as they are of use to oneself, and discarding them on the basis of lack of usefulness when that doesn't prove to be the case.  Coldness of heart does not recognize other bonds besides what has usefulness.  It therefore damages relationships, unaware and unconcerned about the consequences.  Coldness of heart renders arrogance, a sense in which all that matters is one's own desire and interest,  a selfish perspective.  This kind of self-centeredness caters to cruelty; for why recognize the pain of others when it is inconvenient to oneself?  In short, such coldness of heart is irresponsible, damaging relations with abuse.  Moreover, it's the foundation of the types of hypocrisy condemned by Christ in His indictment of the practices of the scribes and Pharisees in Matthew 23.   This coldness of heart is described by Jesus when He says of the scribes and Pharisees that "they bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers" (Matthew 23:4).  Coldness of heart declares, "I don't care," and it is an indication of the kind of laziness illustrated in yesterday's parable (above) by the one his master called his "wicked and lazy servant."  That is, one who doesn't care enough to invest wisely, and according to the instructions of the Lord, whatever resources and life we're given by God.  To be lazy and wicked is to take the easy way out and through things, to want something for nothing, to play the game of entitlements that is borne of arrogance and a sense of superiority, that does not hear the call of Christ and respond to it.  In his conclusion to his first inaugural address, President Abraham Lincoln of the United States used the phrase, "the better angels of our nature" to evoke that which calls us to remember our bonds to others, our union or community.  He said, "Though passion may have strained it must not break our bonds of affection."  President Lincoln may have been speaking about the looming United States Civil War which would in fact begin in earnest the following month.  But his own understanding of "the better angels of our nature" comes clearly through the gospel message of Jesus Christ, and what it is to prefer such "better angels" to alliance with that which is cold-hearted and neglectful.  Passions, which are seemingly hot or warm, are in fact agents and enablers of this ruthless coldness.   Thus, we have the historical emphasis in the Church teaching discipleship on these terms of self-awareness and self-mastery.  The lack of such is one more example of what it is to be truly lazy and unaware of what it is we are doing.  In Christ's teaching of judgment, the sheep and the goats resemble the difference between those who are paying attention, and those who are not.  The sheep are those who both hear and do the commandments of Christ.  In chapter 12, Jesus teaches, "For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother" (see Matthew 12:46-50).   Let us find the way to hearts that hear and do, who know the voice of the Shepherd.

 

 

 

 

Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me

 

 "When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory.  All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats.  And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left.  Then the King will say to those on His right hand, 'Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:  for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.'  Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink?  When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You?  Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?'  And the King will answer and say to them, 'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.'  Then He will also say to those on the left hand, 'Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels:  for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink; I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.'  Then they also will answer Him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?'  Then He will answer them, saying, 'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.'  And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."

 

- Matthew 25:31-46 

In our present cycle of readings, we have been reading through Jesus' discourse on the end times (beginning with the reading last Saturday).  Yesterday we read that Jesus taught:  "For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants ad delivered his goods to them.  And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey.  Then he who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents.  And likewise he who had received two gained two more also.  But he who had received one went and dug in the ground, and hid his lord's money.  After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them.  So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, 'Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained give more talents besides them.'  His lord said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things.  Enter into the joy of your lord.'  He also who had received two talents came and said, 'Lord, you delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained two more talents besides them.'  His lord said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things.  Enter into the joy of your lord.'  Then he who had received the one talent came and said, 'Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed.  And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground.  Look, there you have what is yours.'  But his lord answered and said to him, 'You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed.  So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest.  Therefore take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents.  For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away.  And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness.  There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'"

 

 "When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory."  My study Bible has several notes on today's passage.  Overall, today's reading is what my study Bible calls the majestic climax of Christ's discourse.  The subject of today's reading is not simply a parable, but rather a prophecy of the universal judgment which will indeed come.  Since the Cross is now close to Jesus (He is in Jerusalem, and it is the final week of His earthly life), He raises those who listen to the sight of the glory of the Son of Man on His judgment seat with the whole world before Him.  Note the irony:  that it is He who will soon face an unjust judgment and unjust punishment.  But Christ's standard of judgment is uncalculated mercy toward others, as my study Bible notes.  The works which are produced by faith are given the emphasis here, for saving faith always produces righteous works.  What we do reflects our true inner state, as Christ has taught (Matthew 12:33, 15:18-20).  

"All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats.  And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left."  My study Bible tells us that Christ uses sheep to illustrate the righteous, for they follow His voice and are gentle and productive.  Goats indicate the unrighteous, for they do not follow the shepherd, and they walk along cliffs, which are representative of sin.

"Then the King will say to those on His right hand, 'Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:  for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.'"  To inherit is a term used with regard to sons and daughter as opposed to strangers or servants; in this way Christ is indicating that the righteous become children of God by adoption, and therefore heirs (Galatians 4:4-7).  

"Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink?  When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You?  Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?'  And the King will answer and say to them, 'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.'"  The least, my study Bible explains, refers to all the poor and needy.  But poor and needy comes in many forms, not only material; these needs described here are both physical and spiritual, and we can also think of the many forms that implies.  Therefore the hungry and the thirsty are not only those who need food and drink, but also those who hunger and thirst for the hope of the gospel, and all the support, guidance, help, communion, and treasure therein.  To se Christ in everyone is the fulfillment of what He called the second great commandment to love your neighbor as yourself (Matthew 22:39).

 

"Then He will also say to those on the left hand, 'Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels:  for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink; I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.'  Then they also will answer Him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?'  Then He will answer them, saying, 'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.'  And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."  My study Bible notes that Christ says the fire was prepared for the devil.  It says that this shows that God did not create hell for human beings; rather, people choose to separate from God through their coldness of heart.

So Jesus places compassionate behavior at the center of His judgment.  It's important to understand that compassion is a genuine movement of the heart.  It's not enough to be charitable in an impersonal or even political sense.  If we look at the anointing of Christ by a women identified as Mary of Bethany in John's Gospel, we can see who was really concerned about the bottom line in a "rationalist" way, and that was Judas, who criticized her for her "waste" of an expensive ointment or perfume of the ancient world in oil form (John 12:1-7).  It was Mary's depth of  compassion for Christ that informed the loving act of anointing that she did, the gift of great love in that jar of fragrant oil that became an anointing for His burial.  It is she that Jesus praises and favors, and Judas who receives the correction, although Judas is the one voicing an apparently feigned concern for the poor.  It is Judas who scolds and criticizes that Mary has forgotten the poor in her extravagant act.  But it is Mary who acts from love and compassion, and not Judas.  This should be a great lesson to us about the emphasis on the heart, for acts of charity such as Jesus describes do not come from coldness and calculation.  We can just look around ourselves, and as Mary understood what was happening in the life of Christ, and what was coming at Jerusalem, we can respond with our own compassion to the need that we see.  As my study Bible comments, to be "poor and needy" comes in many forms.  So many people just need an encouraging word, even if their circumstances are truly materially poor and needy.  There is no measure of what hope can do to help a person get up in the morning and keep trying, the difference it can make to feeling defeated and utterly depressed, or to look forward to something in life that might get better.  Many years ago, I volunteered in a food pantry to which the poor came from all parts of my city.  I sat at a table processing forms, and so I was available for people to talk to.  Many poured out their hardship, whatever was on their minds:  their fear, their overwhelming problems, the hardship and obstacles they were encountering.  I could not solve their problems, but aside from trying to piece together where help might come from, I listened and God gave me a word of hope for each one, of encouragement where there wasn't any.  I found the beauty in those people and the goodness in them as they struggled, so God gave me a great gift in simply being there and listening.  To have trouble is one thing, but to have trouble and feel entirely alone is another.  Sometimes we will find that, besides the material help people need, just the time and attention that gives people the respect and concern due their personal humanity is really more powerful than the rest.  It does more to feed their soul to meet a challenge, to try again, to keep going, and it is an affirmation that they too are loved by God and by neighbor, as Jesus has taught.  In Jesus' command to love neighbor as oneself, we find a profound teaching of dignity in that each has the capacity to be a child of God by adoption.  Jesus speaks of loving our neighbor, and we have to consider what that means aside from the personal and familial.  So today, as we are ready to enter into the season of celebration of Christ' nativity, His birth into the world as a human being, let us consider His brilliant teaching on what it is to love neighbor as oneself.  It takes our heart to do that, a kind of communication that goes beyond rational rules and memos and pointing fingers at others who seem to come up short because it is love that speaks from them and from their hearts.  The world has tried many political systems of wealth distribution over the past century, and the radical reforms in so many places resulted in horrific hardship, famine, concentration camps, hidden prisons into which people disappeared, and mass murder on a literal scale of millions.  Let us remember how much we can do with time and kindness, and the affirmation that each one is a creation of God, beloved of Christ.  In His summing up of final judgment, Jesus does not charge us with the task of reforming the world, but with our own responsibility for the compassion we can bear and through which we can act, a compassion that should grow with our faith, for we can love as we know we are loved (1 John 4:19).

 

 

 

 

 

Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me

Orthodox icon of St. Ignatius of Antioch, 17th century, Russia.  Now located in Patriarchate of Antioch, Damascus, Syria

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 of 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

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 into 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 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 tells us that this question indicates a selfish interest in worldly power on the part of the disciples.  Perhaps they assume -- after Jesus has told them that on the third day after He is killed, He will be raised up -- that this means a worldly kingdom will be made manifest, with Jesus as king.  But Jesus uses the opportunity to teach them about the faith they will carry into the world, and the nature of authority and power.  He points to the little child as the model of true discipleship -- and gives a picture of the virtues required for entrance into the kingdom of heaven.   These qualities shown in the little child include dependence, humility, lowliness, simplicity, obedience, and a willingness to love and be loved, as my study bible indicates.  In traditional Orthodox icons of this incident, St. Ignatius of Antioch is shown as this child.  In some legends of the saints, he is the boy who gave the loaves and fishes (John 6:9). 

 "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 of 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."   Little ones, my study bible comments, include all who have childlike humility and simplicity, all those of whom it can be said they are poor in spirit.  As in the Sermon on the Mount (5:29), Jesus uses an illustration of amputation to show the importance of decisive action to put sin far away from us or to avoid it.  (There is no advocacy for literal amputation or mutilation here!)   Rather Jesus speaks of any temptation to abuse those who are easily exploited, manipulated, or pushed around.  My study bible says that this also refers to harmful relationships that must be severed for the salvation of all parties (see Luke 14:26; 1 Corinthians 5:5).  

If we think of amputation in Jesus' context, we must consider it in light of medical practices of the time.  A diseased limb or eye -- before penicillin or antibiotics existed -- having to be removed in order to prevent disease spreading was not a strange or unusual concept.  But certainly it was the final resort to prevent more of the body being diseased and ultimately death.  This is the context in which Jesus speaks about taking decisive action to prevent the spread of "illness."  And in this case, He's speaking of spiritual illness, or sin.  How we look on those we can exploit or push around, where our hand reaches out to grab what doesn't belong to us, or foot decides to trespass, are things we need to cast away from ourselves if they are going to cause offenses -- or, in Jesus' words, "cause one of these little ones to sin."   In yesterday's reading and commentary, we discussed St. Paul's concerns for the Church in the context of the society, and his recommendations for social conduct that in all ways would edify and protect the Church.  Here in today's reading, coming directly after His stated desire to refuse to give offense to the local community by paying the temple tax, although not actually warranted because of His identity as Christ, Jesus does the same.  He is laying out prescribed behavior for those who will become the leaders of His Church -- and what they must do to above all protect the flock, to avoid giving cause for scandal and thus causing sin in the "little ones," those who will rely on them for guidance and direction.  Above all, Jesus' eye is on these little ones, and not those who would be greatest in the Church.  This is because for those who would be great, their job is to care for the little ones, to nurture and build up the flock.  This is precisely St. Paul's perspective as well, although his advice to the church at Corinth involved social conduct in differing dimensions.  But both Christ and St. Paul find common ground in seeking to protect and build up the Church, avoiding unnecessary scandal as stumbling block.  If we put this in the perspective of today, we can surely see problems of treatment of "little ones" in straying hands where they don't belong, scandals of abuse or possibly of financial misuse, anything that would give scandal to the simple and humble and cause them to stray.  The important thing that we keep in mind in terms of Christ's leadership is a clear call for putting aside selfish desires in order to serve the community.  His disciples, the bishops or pillars of the Church on whose shoulders everything else would fall, are those who must see in the littlest ones the image of Christ Himself.  Think about what a stark warning that really is, to these men who knew and lived with Christ and called Him "Lord" to His face.  In today's world there are plenty of scandals around the world, violence and power that seem out of control, and unfortunately no shortage of scandals in the Church (excluding no denomination).  Particularly at this time people need Christ as Savior.  There are so many ways to lose one's way due to influences all around, including deliberate stoking up of anger or panic and fear.  Let us consider for ourselves, then, how much more important Christ's words are today than ever, in order to protect the flock, to bring Christ's words to all, and especially to protect the faith of the littlest ones.  We might all serve as leaders if we but remember this one most important thing about how to use our power or agency -- such as it is -- to build Christ's saving word in the world that so sorely needs it.   The icon above is a rendering of St. Ignatius of Antioch.  It shows his martyrdom in the arena, as a Christian bishop of Antioch, who was eaten by lions in the arena at Rome.  It was in his city, Antioch, Syria, where those who followed Jesus were first called Christians.  Let us think about the nurturing in love and care of such a "little one," who could grow to become so bold in strength to give his life for his faith and the ones whom Christ loved.

Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world

 "When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory.  All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats.   And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left.  Then the King will say to those on His right hand, 'Come, you blessed of  My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:  for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.'   Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink?  When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You?  Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?'  And the King will answer and say to them, 'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to me.'

"Then He will also say to those on the left hand, 'Depart from Me, you cursed, into everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels:  for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink; I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.'  Then they also will answer Him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?'  Then He will answer them, saying, 'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.'  And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous to eternal life."

- Matthew 25:31-46

In our recent readings, Jesus has been telling the disciples about the end times, and the time of His return.  In yesterday's reading, He gave the following parable:  "For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them.  And to one he gave five talents, to another two,  and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey.  Then he who received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents.  And likewise he who had received two gained two more also.  But he who had received one went and dug in the ground, and his lord's money.  After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them.  So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, 'Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents besides them.'  His lord said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things.  Enter into the joy of your lord.'  He also who had received two talents came and said, 'Lord, you delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained two more talents besides them.'  His lord said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things.  Enter into the joy of your lord.'  Then he who had received the one talent came and said, 'Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed.  And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent on the ground.  Look, there you have what is yours.'  But his lord answered and said to him, 'You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed.  So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest.  So take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents.  For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away.  And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness.  There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'"

 "When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory.  All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats.   And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left.  Then the King will say to those on His right hand, 'Come, you blessed of  My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:  for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.'   Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink?  When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You?  Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?'  And the King will answer and say to them, 'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to me.'"  This is what my study bible calls the majestic climax of Jesus' discourse, which is not simply a parable, but rather a prophecy of the universal judgment that will indeed come.  Since Jesus' Cross is now near to Him, He raises the hearer to the sight of the glory of the Son of Man on His judgment seat and the whole world before Him.  He is clearly preparing His disciples for the Cross, and also all the rest of us for the time in which we live, in which we await His return.  The true standard of Christ's judgment is uncalculated mercy toward others.  Works that are produced by faith are the true emphasis here.  Saving faith always produces righteous works, my study bible tells us.  What we do reflects our true inner state.  The least refers to all the poor and the needy, in any sense of those words.  The needs that are described here include both physical and spiritual needs.  So, the hungry or thirsty aren't only those who need physical nourishment, but rather include all those who hunger and thirst for the hope of the gospel.  Sheep are used by Christ to illustrate the righteous, as sheep follow His voice and are gentle and productive.  But goats indicate the unrighteous, not because any creature is inferior to another, but because they do not follow the shepherd and they also walk along cliffs, representative of sin.  To inherit is a term used only with regard to sons and daughters, rather than strangers or servants.  The righteous, we are to understand, become children of God by adoption (Galatians 4:4-7).  Seeing Christ in others is the fulfillment of the great commandment to love your neighbor as yourself  (22:39).

"Then He will also say to those on the left hand, 'Depart from Me, you cursed, into everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels:  for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink; I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.'  Then they also will answer Him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?'  Then He will answer them, saying, 'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.'  And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous to eternal life."  My study bible comments that the fire that was prepared for the devil shows that God did not create hell for human beings; rather, people choose this torment by their own coldness of heart.

One really couldn't think of a more eloquent parable than this, illustrating the importance of the practice of mercy, compassion, and love.  It is a perfect illustration of the golden rule, and -- as my study bible says -- the great commandment that Jesus cites to love one's neighbor as oneself.  Jesus has very frequently emphasized the importance of caring for the "little ones," here equivalent to "the least of these My brethren."  He is speaking directly to those who will become the leaders and founding pillars and bishops of His Church, so we must take into consideration His emphasis on this type of leadership among those who will be in authority.  But the teaching in the parable applies to each one of us, no matter what our situation, as we will each find circumstances in which there is an opportunity to exercise our own leadership and authority.  If you have a child, that is an opportunity.  If there is someone who is in some way one of the "least of these My brethren" who could use your help or care, then that is also an opportunity for the proper use of authority or position in a type of hierarchy.  In any situation or circumstance, someone who is powerful has the capacity to exercise the authority He proclaims in the parable for others who simply do not possess the strength, or the currency, or the capacity for doing for themselves what each of us would wish for if we were in such a position.  All of these are concepts of opportunity for the exercise of Christ's kind of leadership, helping the "least of these My brethren," whether that be someone with an illness, a deficiency of any kind, an inability to function in one dimension or another, or any other type of incapacity in any situation.  Let us consider how often we come across another who cannot fulfill every capacity or function for themselves, whether they are debilitated by their own frailties or susceptibilities or ailments of any kind, or subject to forms of prejudice or social stigma and hierarchies.  Frailty can be as simple as age and infirmity, or the helplessness of a child.  Let us consider the infinite ways God presents us with an opportunity to exercise the type of leadership and authority Christ proclaims as His own here.  He has already taught the disciples, on more than one occasion, that "whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant.  And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave—just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many" (20:26-28, 23:11; see also James 1:27).  Each of us is presented with opportunities to "step up" and be the kind of authority that Jesus proclaims belongs to His household, His Church, His Kingdom, and the mansions therein.  Let us keep in mind that Jesus is not talking about pity when He speaks of caring for others.  He speaks of caring for "My brethren."