“For the one who is least among all of you is the one who is the greatest.” (Lk 9:48)
FIRST READING: Jb 1:6-22
A reading from the Book of Job
One day, when the angels of God came to present themselves before the LORD,
Satan also came among them.
And the LORD said to Satan, "Whence do you come?"
Then Satan answered the LORD and said,
"From roaming the earth and patrolling it."
And the LORD said to Satan, "Have you noticed my servant Job,
and that there is no one on earth like him,
blameless and upright, fearing God and avoiding evil?"
But Satan answered the LORD and said,
"Is it for nothing that Job is God-fearing?
Have you not surrounded him and his family
and all that he has with your protection?
You have blessed the work of his hands,
and his livestock are spread over the land.
But now put forth your hand and touch anything that he has,
and surely he will blaspheme you to your face."
And the LORD said to Satan,
"Behold, all that he has is in your power;
only do not lay a hand upon his person."
So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD.
And so one day, while his sons and his daughters
were eating and drinking wine
in the house of their eldest brother,
a messenger came to Job and said,
"The oxen were ploughing and the asses grazing beside them,
and the Sabeans carried them off in a raid.
They put the herdsmen to the sword,
and I alone have escaped to tell you."
While he was yet speaking, another came and said,
"Lightning has fallen from heaven
and struck the sheep and their shepherds and consumed them;
and I alone have escaped to tell you."
While he was yet speaking, another messenger came and said,
"The Chaldeans formed three columns,
seized the camels, carried them off,
and put those tending them to the sword,
and I alone have escaped to tell you."
While he was yet speaking, another came and said,
"Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine
in the house of their eldest brother,
when suddenly a great wind came across the desert
and smote the four corners of the house.
It fell upon the young people and they are dead;
and I alone have escaped to tell you."
Then Job began to tear his cloak and cut off his hair.
He cast himself prostrate upon the ground, and said,
"Naked I came forth from my mother's womb,
and naked shall I go back again.
The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away;
blessed be the name of the LORD!"
In all this Job did not sin,
nor did he say anything disrespectful of God.
GOSPEL OF THE DAY: Lk 9:46-50
From the Gospel according to Luke
An argument arose among the disciples
about which of them was the greatest.
Jesus realized the intention of their hearts and took a child
and placed it by his side and said to them,
"Whoever receives this child in my name receives me,
and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.
For the one who is least among all of you
is the one who is the greatest."
Then John said in reply,
"Master, we saw someone casting out demons in your name
and we tried to prevent him
because he does not follow in our company."
Jesus said to him,
"Do not prevent him, for whoever is not against you is for you."
MONDAY OF THE TWENTY-SIXTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME - Gospel (Lk 9:46-50)
THE WORD OF GOD FOR EVERYONE
Dear People of God,
Today's Word of God wants to tell everyone that God is mighty and powerful; and humans are just mortals, lowly, small, and weak before God. Therefore, God calls His children to know how to live humbly, self-effacingly, small, and simple before Him.
Why does God call everyone to become the smallest person among all people? That is because people's hearts are still greedy for fame, power, position, and wealth; they always want others to exalt and glorify them; that is the arrogance that Satan is tempting and sowing into people's minds. Because of that arrogance, people compete for power and position with each other today. God sees everything, so He has mercy and wants to save people from the pride that Satan is holding. He teaches everyone to become a humble person, to become a servant of all people following the example of the service of Jesus Christ. He is God. He came to the world not to be honored and praised by people, but He became a normal person like everyone else to serve all people. Today's Word of God also tells of an incident: where Jesus' disciples opposed the exorcism of John's disciples. The disciples who followed Jesus thought that only their Teacher and their group were the only ones who could exorcise demons. Jesus' disciples reprimanded John's disciples for doing the exorcism work on their own; this was not pleasing to God, because it was arrogance and sectarianism. Therefore, today Jesus teaches people a lesson: always know how to live humbly, modestly, small, and simply before God, because all people are children of God, and only those who receive the good graces that God gives will receive them. Therefore, He calls on everyone: to always know how to respect, love, and unite with each other to glorify God, save souls together, and together drive out Satan who is imprisoning so many human souls in today's world.
Today's Word of God also invites everyone to follow the example of Jesus Christ: live humbly, humble yourself, become like the smallest, lowest person among all people; and follow His example of coming to the world to serve everyone, not to be served by others.
Thanks be to God. Amen.
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