LITTLE ONES

ISAIAH 40:1-11; PS 96 The Lord our God comes with Power; Mt 18:12-14

"In just the same way, it is not the will of your heavenly Father that one of these little ones be lost."

Who are these little ones Jesus speaks of the gospel.  In fact, throughout the gospel of matthew in particular chapter 18,this phrase, "little ones" comes up over and over again.

Jesus seems to be preoccupied with the little ones.

At first glance we think he is talking about a child or little children, but as we read further into the text we cone upon this phrase, 'Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to  have a great millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea."

Again Jesus states, "see to it that you do not depose one of these little ones, for I say to you their angels in heaven always look upon the face of my heavenly Father."

So who are these little ones.  Are they children between the ages of 1-12 or are they teenagers or are they young adolescents.  At what point are we no longer little ones ourselves?

Or perhaps, though we might grow up, we remain little int he eyes of God.

From God's point of view are we not all "little ones?"



We should think about this the next time we come across someone who irritates us or annoys us: they too are little ones as we are little ones.  We need to recognize the little one before us and then perhaps we can discover the compassion God invites us to celebrate in our life.