“Unless you turn and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.” (Mt 18:3)
FIRST READING: Jb 3:1-3, 11-17, 20-23
A reading from the Book of Job
Job opened his mouth and cursed his day.
Job spoke out and said:
Perish the day on which I was born,
the night when they said, “The child is a boy!”
Why did I not perish at birth,
come forth from the womb and expire?
Or why was I not buried away like an untimely birth,
like babes that have never seen the light?
Wherefore did the knees receive me?
or why did I suck at the breasts?
For then I should have lain down and been tranquil;
had I slept, I should then have been at rest
With kings and counselors of the earth
who built where now there are ruins
Or with princes who had gold
and filled their houses with silver.
There the wicked cease from troubling,
there the weary are at rest.
Why is light given to the toilers,
and life to the bitter in spirit?
They wait for death and it comes not;
they search for it rather than for hidden treasures,
Rejoice in it exultingly,
and are glad when they reach the grave:
Those whose path is hidden from them,
and whom God has hemmed in!
GOSPEL OF THE DAY: Lk 9:51-56
From the Gospel according to Luke
When the days for Jesus to be taken up were fulfilled,
he resolutely determined to journey to Jerusalem,
and he sent messengers ahead of him.
On the way they entered a Samaritan village
to prepare for his reception there,
but they would not welcome him
because the destination of his journey was Jerusalem.
When the disciples James and John saw this they asked,
“Lord, do you want us to call down fire from heaven
to consume them?”
Jesus turned and rebuked them,
and they journeyed to another village.
MEMORIAL OF SAINT THÉRÈSE OF THE CHILD JESUS - VIRGIN AND DOCTOR OF THE CHURCH - Gospel (Mt 18:1-5)
THE WORD OF GOD FOR EVERYONE
Dear People of God,
Today the Church celebrates the feast day of Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus. She was a person with a childlike soul and always living to please God.
Today's Word of God tells everyone that whoever wants to enter the Kingdom of Heaven, must first become like children and have a simple, humble, small, and lowly soul before God and everyone, in all places, at at all times.
Because the Kingdom of Heaven is only for those with small, simple, and lowly souls; those who are arrogant, proud, and conceited cannot be in His Kingdom.
God calls on everyone to live more simply, modestly, and humbly, following the example of Saint Thérèse, who always had a childlike, small soul before God and always desired to please Him in everything.
He also said those who live humbly, self-abasement, lowly, and small like a child will be the greatest person in the Kingdom of Heaven.
Therefore, God calls on everyone: while still living on this earth, everyone should practice living simply, small, and humble before God and everyone; live lovingly, unity, and acceptance of all of your brothers and sisters, regardless of their wealth or poverty; because everyone, good or bad, is the image of God; never despise the small and lowly people, because God always loves small, lowly, and simple souls before Him.
Therefore, God calls everyone: whoever wishes to enter the Kingdom of Heaven to enjoy eternal happiness, then right here on earth, should become like children who always nestle in the arms of God, always listen to, and live according to His teachings, that is having a childlike soul that always knows how to trust, rely on God's love and mercy.
God always opens His arms calling and waiting for those who know to repent and return to Him.
Therefore, He calls His children to live lovingly toward everyone, to become humble and small like the image of Jesus Christ who came to earth to become man and to have a simple, small soul to always know to rely on, listen to God's teachings, and put them into practice in life. If you can live like that, God will reward you with the eternal Kingdom of Heaven in the future.
Thanks be to God. Amen.
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