Tag: matthew18:1-4

Posted in "Follow Me", CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, FATHERS of the Church, ONE Minute REFLECTION, QUOTES on ANGER, QUOTES on ENEMIES, QUOTES on HUMILITY, QUOTES on INNOCENCE, The KINGDOM of GOD / HEAVEN, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 3 October – ‘ … And Who is this Child ?… ‘

Posted on by AnaStpaul

One Minute Reflection – 3 October – “The Month of the Most Holy Rosary and of the Angels” – St Thérèse of the Child Jesus (1873–1897) – Isaias 66:12-14, Matthew 18:1-4 Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“Whosoever, therefore, shall humble himself, as this little child, he is the greater in the Kingdom of heaven.”- Matthew 18:4

REFLECTION – “The Lord said to His Apostles, who were already adult and mature: “Unless you turn and become like this little child, you shall not enter the Kingdom of Heaven” (Mt 18:3&4)… He urges them to rediscover their childhood… in order that they might be born again to innocence of heart: “No-one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and spirit” (Jn 3:5).

“Unless you turn and become like this little child” – He does not say “these children” but “this child”- He only chooses one, only suggests one. And Who is this Child Whom He puts forward as an example to His disciples? I do not think it was a child of one of the people, one of the crowd, who offers an example of holiness to the Apostles, on behalf of the whole world. No, I do not think this Child comes from the people but from Heaven. This is a question of that Child from Heaven of Whom the Prophet Isaiah speaks: “A Child is born to us, a Son is given us” (9:5). This is the innocent Child, incapable of meeting insult with insult, or blows with blows and Who – better still – prays for His enemies even during His agony: “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do” (Lk 23:34)., The Lord overflows in this way, in His unfathomable grace, out of the innocence of heart which nature gives to children. He is that Child Who asks little ones to imitate and follow Him!” – St Maximus of Turin (Died c420) Bisho, Father (Homily 58).

PRAYER – O Lord, Who said: Unless you become as little children, you shall not enter into the Kingdom of Heaven, grant us, we beseech Thee, so to follow the footsteps of blessed Thérèse the Virgin, in humility and simplicity of heart that we may obtain everlasting rewards.Through Jesus Christ, Thy Son our Lord, Who lives and reigns with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen (Collect).

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, ONE Minute REFLECTION, QUOTES on INNOCENCE, QUOTES on PURITY, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 3 October – ‘ … Innocence and purity of mind … ‘

Posted on by AnaStpaul

One Minute Reflection – 3 October – St Thérèse of the Child Jesus (1873 – 1897) – Isaias 66:12-14, Matthew 18:1-4 Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“Amen, I say to you, unless you turn and become like little children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.”… Matthew 18:3

REFLECTION – “Whoever humbles himself like this child, he is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven. Just as this child, whose example I show you, does not persist in anger, does not long remember injury suffered, is not enamoured inordinately by the sight of a beautiful woman, does not think one thing and say another, so you too, unless you have similar innocence and purity of mind, will not be able to enter the Kingdom of Heaven! Or, it might be taken in another way: “Whosoever, therefore, humiliates himself like this child, is greater in the kingdom of heaven,” so as to imply that anyone, who imitates Me and humiliates himself following My example, so that he abases himself as much as I abased Myself in accepting the form of a servant, will enter the Kingdom of Heaven.” – St Jerome (343-420) Translator of Sacred Scripture into Latin (The Vulgate) One of the original four Doctors of the Latin Church, Father (Commentary on Matthew 3).

PRAYER – O Lord, Who said: Unless you become as little children, you shall not enter into the Kingdom of Heaven, grant us, we beseech Thee, so to follow the footsteps of blessed Thérèse the Virgin, in humility and simplicity of heart that we may obtain everlasting rewards.Through Jesus Christ, Thy Son our Lord, Who lives and reigns with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen (Collect).