The Lowly Ones
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
Reading (Matthew 18: 1-4)
The disciples approached Jesus and asked, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?"
He called a child over, and stood him before them and said, "Unless you change 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 a child such as this in my name receives me."
Song (Luke 1: 46-53)
My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,
My spirit rejoices in God my savior.
For he has looked upon his handmaid's lowliness,
Behold, from now on all ages will call me blessed.
The Mighty One has done great things for me,
Holy is his name.
His mercy is from age to age to those who fear him.He has shown might with his arm,
Dispersed the arrogant of mind and heart.
He has thrown down rulers from their thrones,
And lifted up the lowly.
The hungry he has filled with good things,
The rich he has sent away empty.
Reflection
Jesus came into the world and turned the order of things upside down. He declared that the last would be first and the first would be last, that the lowly would be given the best portions and the powerful and arrogant would be humbled. That is why he was popular with the masses but ran into trouble with the authorities of his time.Jesus introduced a different standard for measuring the worth of people. It is far different from conventional standards. It does not consider a person's wealth or talents, name recognition or prestige, power or influence. Instead it looks into the heart of a man or woman to see if she acknowledges her lowliness and opens herself to the love of God. It is God's standard for setting the value of a person. It declares that the worth of each person is inestimable, not because of his own merits or accomplishments, but because he is God's most precious creation.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, you have said that the last will be first. You humbled yourself and took on the human condition to show us our worth. May we learn to see with the eyes of faith, that we may recognize each person as a brother or sister to be loved as you have loved us.