Kingdom Truth

Today’s Gospel Text:  At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" 2 And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them, 3 and said, "Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Whoever humbles himself like this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5 "Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me.  10 "See that you do not despise one of these little ones; for I tell you that in heaven their angels always behold the face of my Father who is in heaven. 12 What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray? 13 And if he finds it, truly, I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray. 14 So it is not the will of my Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish. Matt 18:1-5, 10, 12-14

Reflection: If you thought there was no hierarchy in the kingdom of heaven then you are sadly mistaken.

From this passage of Scripture it is clearly evident that there are people in positions of power and there will be people under them in the Kingdom of heaven too.

Jesus, if he wanted to, could have corrected his dedicated disciples and told them that there are no great and no small people in the kingdom of heaven, the issue exists only here:

In the family, in the place of work, in organizations, in governments and institutions and in the armed forces, etc. 

Further, he could have even told them that even those who talk about equality in a corrupt way, and want to either equate themselves with positions and power or would want to bring down every form of dominance, will also be inducting a new form of hierarchy.

Can the world function without a hierarchy, even Satan’s kingdom functions on the basis of hierarchy, with no equality at all; where all are equal and yet with an insidious hierarchy.

Not so with God’s Kingdom, even though there is a hierarchy in God’s kingdom, yet all stand equal before the throne of God.  

And if this talk about hierarchy and power and positions sends shivers down anyone’s spine and people now begin to think of God as a greater dictator than the Pope then it is better that they fully go the way of Satan now itself rather than hide themselves under his dark shadows.

It is only the humble, who will be exalted unto eternity because they are the ones who will be able to accept the dominance and submit to power and positions which are in keeping with God’s justice; a place of true joy, peace and happiness.

Prayer:  Lord, give us a humble and contrite heart so that we are prepared to enter your kingdom which you have prepared for those who accept your ways.

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