Greatest

The WORD today reminds me who the greatest in God’s eyes is. 

A few years back, there was a movie about the life of Muhammad Ali, whom many considered one of if not the world’s greatest boxer, although today Floyd Mayweather insists he is the greatest. The theme song of the Ali movie  had the title. “The World’s Greatest”. He won many fights, he was a well-respected boxer in the ring, and his skills are superior… that’s why he is a great fighter.

God’s standards are usually opposite as those of the world’s. The greatest in God’s eyes are not the strong and mighty, but the dependent and childlike.

In the gospel, Jesus told his disciples that a child is great in God’s eyes, and they should welcome and be like children. That they should humble themselves like the children. Back then, children together with women were the least in the society, so women and of course children are naturally humble because of their situation. 

Why is a child great? Because of his humility and nothingness. He knows he cannot do anything on his own, so he is fully dependent on his parents. Children does not only rely, but also obey their parents – even when they do not understand what the parents are asking them to do. The same way, God wants us to be like that, to know and remember that we really cannot do anything on our own… that we should be fully dependent and obedient on God, our father. This is something difficult, especially for successful and independent people who think they can do anything and can exist on their own.

If we know and accept our nothingness, and fully depend on God, then we are great. For it is when we humbly ask for His grace and guidance that we can be filled with everything God wants to give us. And when we are filled with God, then we are certainly great, for God is in us.

In the  first reading, we see that it is only by God’s graces can we receive blessings and provisions. Only when God’s hand is upon us can we receive great blessings. Not by our own merit. The psalmist reminds us not to forget God and all he has done. 

How do I see greatness? What is my perspective on greatness? Do I realize that God’s hand was upon me all my life? Do I humble myself before him? 

May we be reminded of what it takes to be great in God’s eyes, and do our best to be one.

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for your reminder. Thank you for loving me and for blessing me. Lord, this gospel has been repeating a number of times these past few weeks, and I believe that you just want me to remember how important this is to you. Thank you for sending people in my life who remind me how much you love me and how special I am to you. Lord, I am sorry for the times I put you out of the picture, when I just rely on myself and do things on my own. Sorry for the times I focus too much on myself, how I can be great in the eyes of the world. Help me have the childlike attitude and faith that will always rely on you as I live. Help me live like your child so I can be great in your eyes. Amen.

Blessed Day!

In Christ,

-g-

Daily Readings

October 2 2019

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Memorial of the Holy Guardian Angels
Lectionary: 457/650

Reading 1 NEH 2:1-8

In the month Nisan of the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes,
when the wine was in my charge,
I took some and offered it to the king.
As I had never before been sad in his presence,
the king asked me, “Why do you look sad?
If you are not sick, you must be sad at heart.”
Though I was seized with great fear, I answered the king:
“May the king live forever!
How could I not look sad
when the city where my ancestors are buried lies in ruins,
and its gates have been eaten out by fire?”
The king asked me, “What is it, then, that you wish?”
I prayed to the God of heaven and then answered the king:
“If it please the king,
and if your servant is deserving of your favor,
send me to Judah, to the city of my ancestors’ graves,
to rebuild it.”
Then the king, and the queen seated beside him,
asked me how long my journey would take
and when I would return.
I set a date that was acceptable to him,
and the king agreed that I might go.

I asked the king further: “If it please the king,
let letters be given to me for the governors
of West-of-Euphrates,
that they may afford me safe-conduct until I arrive in Judah;
also a letter for Asaph, the keeper of the royal park,
that he may give me wood for timbering the gates
of the temple-citadel and for the city wall
and the house that I shall occupy.”
The king granted my requests,
for the favoring hand of my God was upon me.

Responsorial Psalm PS 137:1-2, 3, 4-5, 6

R. (6ab) Let my tongue be silenced if I ever forget you!
By the streams of Babylon
we sat and wept
when we remembered Zion.
On the aspens of that land
we hung up our harps.
R. Let my tongue be silenced if I ever forget you!
Though there our captors asked of us
the lyrics of our songs,
And our despoilers urged us to be joyous:
"Sing for us the songs of Zion!"
R. Let my tongue be silenced if I ever forget you!
How could we sing a song of the LORD
in a foreign land?
If I forget you, Jerusalem,
may my right hand be forgotten!
R. Let my tongue be silenced if I ever forget you!
May my tongue cleave to my palate
if I remember you not,
If I place not Jerusalem
ahead of my joy.
R. Let my tongue be silenced if I ever forget you!

Alleluia PS 103:21

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Bless the LORD, all you angels,
you ministers, who do his will.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel MT 18:1-5, 10

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 humbles himself 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."