Ezek 2:8–3:4/Psa 119:14,24,72,103,111,131/Matt 18:1-5,10,12-14.
Reflection:
(By Most Rev. Emmanuel Kofi Fianu,SVD(Catholic Bishop of Ho,Ghana))
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The First Reading narrates the experience of Ezekiel at the beginning of his mission of being sent as prophet to Israel.
The vision and its command today reveal the bitter or sour nature of what he is to tell the people of Israel.
Ezekiel is to speak of lamentations,wailings and moanings to the people of Israel.
This was not to be a pleasant mission but we observe that God’s message must be delivered as it is given.
This is affirmed by the
last sentence of the reading when God told Ezekiel “Son of man, go to the House of Israel and tell them what I have said”.
The difficult nature of the truth of God is also brought out in the Gospel reading today in regard to the one who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
A comparison with the
Gospels of Mark and Luke give the impression the question was more about rivalry among the disciples themselves.
The question of the disciples was uncalled for since Jesus had already indicated there would be distinctions in the kingdom of heaven.
For example in Matt 5,19 he said “whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments,and teaches others to do the same, will be called least in the kingdom of heaven;but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.”
He also showed that some of the disciples held a privileged position as he selected Peter, James and John for the transfiguration experience.
The response of Jesus, in which he calls on his disciples to become like little children,does not point to the imitation of the innocence, purity or faith of children.
Since the concern of the disciples is about status, we should think of the childlike virtues of humility of mind and unconcern for social status.
Jesus therefore calls on his disciples to adopt a new attitude in life so that they may be included in the kingdom of heaven.
The humility that Jesus calls for is the readiness to place oneself at the service of others without thinking of a social status.
No matter who one is, we should be ready to offer service to one another and not see our social status as a means to lord it over others or as an excuse not to serve them.
This teaching calls to mind the concept of “servant-
leader” which identifies Jesus himself.
As his followers, he invites us to shame the world that seeks power and status.
He calls us to teach the world a new way of looking at and evaluating social status in relation to service to the neighbour.
We pray for the grace to be able to witness to our Christian role of servant-leaders in all situations of life.Amen.
