COURSE LEARNING PACKETS Document Code FM-STL-014

Saint Louis University Revision No. 01

School of Teacher Education and Liberal Arts Effectivity June 07, 2021
Page 1 of 3

INSPIRED WORD OF GOD

The missionary spirit in the Church is inspired by the call to humble service that the
Gospels talk about. Read this story from the Gospel of Matthew guided by the following:

1. What were Jesus’ disciples arguing about?

2. How did Jesus respond to the issue his disciples' issue discussing?
3. How different was Jesus’ understanding of greatness from that of his disciples?
4. What is the implication of the text to the Church’s relationship to the world?

True Greatness (Mt. 18:1-5)

At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked,

‘Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?’
He called a child, whom he put among them, and
said, ‘Truly I tell you, unless you change and
become like children, you will never enter the
kingdom of heaven. Whoever becomes humble
like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of
heaven. Whoever welcomes one such child in my
name welcomes me.

The Gospel presents the first part of Matthew’s discussion on the community (Mt
18:1-14), which has “child” (“little ones” in other translations) as the key word. The children
referred to in the text are the children literally and the poor, those who are not necessary
for society and the community, like the little children. Jesus asks that these little ones
should always be the center of the concern of the communities because “The Father in
Heaven does not will that one of these little ones should be lost” (Mt 18:14).
 COURSE LEARNING PACKETS Document Code FM-STL-014
Saint Louis University Revision No. 01
School of Teacher Education and Liberal Arts Effectivity June 07, 2021
Page 2 of 3

What is the question of the disciples which provokes the teaching of Jesus? The
disciples want to know who is more significant in the Kingdom. The simple fact of this
question reveals that they have not understood anything or very little of the message of
Jesus. The whole discourse on the community is given to make them understand that
among the followers of Jesus, the spirit of service should prevail, the gift of self, of pardon,
of reconciliation, and gratuitous love, without seeking one’s interest and one’s
advancement.

The disciples ask for a criterion to be able to measure the importance of the
people in the community: “Who is the greater in the Kingdom of Heaven?” Jesus answers
that it is the children or the little ones! The children are not socially significant; they do not
belong to the world of the powerful. The disciples have to become children. Instead of
growing up to the heights, they must grow down and toward the periphery, where the
poor and the little ones live. In this way, they will be more significant in the Kingdom! The
reason is the following: “Anyone who receives one of these children receives Me.” Jesus
identifies Himself with them. The love of Jesus for the little ones cannot be explained.
Children have no merit. It is the complete gratuity of the love of God which manifests
itself and asks to be imitated in the community of those who call themselves disciples of
Jesus.

To care for the little ones, the oppressed and the marginalized, in humility and
without condescension is the mark of true greatness. In other words, power is service. With
great power comes the great responsibility to use it for the common good.

If we continue reading up to the following verses of Chapter 18 of Matthew, we

hear Jesus’ command: Do not scandalize the children. These verses concerning the
scandal to little ones are very significant. We give a brief commentary on them. To
scandalize the little ones means this: to be the cause for them to lose their faith in God,
to lose faith in the goodness of humanity, and to abandon the community. Matthew
keeps a short saying of Jesus: “Anyone who scandalizes even one of these little ones who
believe in Me, it would be better for him to have a millstone tied around his neck and
then be thrown into the sea.” It is a sign that many little ones no longer identified
themselves with the community and sought another refuge.

Are we, in our Churches or communities, driving away others because they are
not welcomed in our midst? Do we look down on people because we feel they are below
us in social standing, possession, education, and even looks? It is a scandal when, in our
Churches, people do not feel they belong. What is lacking in us? What is the cause of this
scandal to the little ones? To avoid the scandal, Jesus orders the causes of the scandal
to cut off their foot or take out their eye. This sentence cannot be taken literally, of course.
 COURSE LEARNING PACKETS Document Code FM-STL-014
Saint Louis University Revision No. 01
School of Teacher Education and Liberal Arts Effectivity June 07, 2021
Page 3 of 3

It means that we should be very firm, strict in fighting against any scandal which draws
the little ones away. In any way, we cannot allow the little ones to feel marginalized in
our community because the community would not be a sign of the Kingdom of God in
this case.

The Biblical text about the temptation to sin says that the angels of the little ones
see the face of the Father. Jesus recalls Psalm 91. The little ones take Yahweh as their
refuge and make the Highest their fortress (Ps 91:9), and because of this, “No disaster can
overtake you, no plague come near your tent; He has given angels orders about you to
guard you wherever you go. They will carry you in their arms in case you trip over a stone”
(Ps 91:10,12)

In many countries, including the Philippines, there are many “little ones.” Think
about who these people are and how you, in your way, can contribute to making them
a little “bigger.” This is your mission and the mission of the whole Church, which does not
exist for itself but in the service of others.