Monday, August 11, 2014

19th Week, Ordinary Time, Tuesday, 12-08-14

Ezekiel 2:8 - 3:4 / Matthew 18:1-5, 10, 12-14

There was a movie that was shown some time back called "Bruce Almighty".

It was about this ordinary man who was given godly powers for whatever reason.

Power is indeed very attractive and appealing, and more so for the ordinary man on the street who seems to feel so powerless in all that is happening around him.

And for sports stars to 4-star generals, to have power is to command respect and to be looked up to.

So when the disciples asked Jesus who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven, just what kind of answer were they actually expecting?

Certainly they were expecting some kind of hero or a man of power and might.

Jesus answered them by setting a child in front of them as a symbol of greatness.

True power in the human realm is not in aggression or physical might or even intellectual superiority.

True human power and greatness is in being simple and straight-forward, in being loving and compassionate, gentle and kind, honest and just.

These qualities express true power and greatness.

May the Eucharist change our hearts to be like that of the heart of a child.