The Gospel according to Matthew 18:1-5, 10, 12-14

The disciples approached Jesus and said, “Who is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven?” He called a child over, placed it in their midst, and said, “Amen, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will not enter the Kingdom of heaven. Whoever becomes humble like this child is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven. And whoever receives one child such as this in my name receives me. “See that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that their angels in heaven always look upon the face of my heavenly Father. What is your opinion? If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them goes astray, will he not leave the ninety-nine in the hills and go in search of the stray? And if he finds it, amen, I say to you, he rejoices more over it than over the ninety-nine that did not stray. In just the same way, it is not the will of your heavenly Father that one of these little ones be lost.”

Reflection

During World War II, Saint Maximilian Kolbe opened his monastery as a temporary hospital in need, provided shelter for refugees including hiding 2000 Jews from German persecution. The monastery was shut down and he got arrested by the Germans and was transferred to Auschwitz. He willingly volunteered to have a death sentence by starvation to take the place of a man with a family. After two weeks of calmly being dehydrated of food and water he was still alive, so the guards gave him a lethal injection (Catholic Online 2018).

As we commemorate Saint Maximillian Kolbe, let us pray for our brothers and sisters whom are contemplating abortion. Saint Kolbe gave up his life voluntarily to preserve a man’s life with a family; he preserved a generation. Whereas, Jesus gave up his life voluntary to preserve the whole world.

Today’s gospel expressed the importance of children and how we should receive them. A child’s life once given to us is a generation given to us. Let us encourage and support each other to preserve generations.

Reference: Catholic Online. “St. Maximilian Kolbe - Saints & Angels.” Catholic Online, Catholic Online, www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=370.