Tuesday of the Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time
Intention: For God’s blessing on our Lasallian educators, students, and families as they prepare for a new school year.
Today’s Gospel | Matthew 18: 1-5, 10, 12-14
The disciples approached Jesus and said, “Who is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven?” He called a child over, placed it in their midst, and said, “Amen, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will not enter the Kingdom of heaven. Whoever becomes humble like this child is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven. And whoever receives one child such as this in my name receives me.
“See that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that their angels in heaven always look upon the face of my heavenly Father. 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? And if he finds it, amen, I say to you, he rejoices more over it than over the ninety-nine that did not stray. In just the same way, it is not the will of your heavenly Father that one of these little ones be lost.”
From the Fifth Meditation for the Time of Retreat | Saint John Baptist de La Salle
How much easier it is for children to fall over some precipice, because they are weak in mind as well as in body and have little understanding of what is for their own good. Therefore, they need the light of watchful guides to lead them on the path of salvation, guides who have an adequate understanding of matters concerning piety and a knowledge of the ordinary faults of young people. Thus they will be able to help them be aware of pitfalls and keep away from them.
This is what God has provided in giving children teachers whom he has charged with this care and to whom he has given the concern and the vigilance not only to prevent anything whatsoever harmful to their salvation from capturing their hearts but also to guide the children through all the dangers they meet in the world. The result will be that the devil will not even dare approach them, because they are under the guidance of these attentive leaders and under the protection of God.
Prayer
Eternal Father, we pray to you to help us learn what it means to build your Kingdom. Teach us humility, that we might serve well. Teach us compassion, that we might embrace and care for one another, especially those who are the most vulnerable among us. Teach us faithfulness, so that our words and actions always are true to yours, especially when they are rejected because of the sinfulness that cripples our world. Strengthen and steady us to be your presence to our world. We ask this of you who lives and reigns with your Son and the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever. Amen.