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From: Matthew 18:1-5, 10

The “Little Ones” and the Kingdom. The Lost Sheep

[1] 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.

Commentary:

1-35. The teachings of Jesus recorded in chapter 18 of St. Matthew
are often called the “discourse on the Church” or “ecclesiastical
discourse” because they are a series of instructions on the way in
which His Church is to be administered.

The first passage (Matthew 18:1-5), addressed to leaders, that is, the
future hierarchy of the Church, warns them against natural tendencies
to pride and ambition: even though they have positions of government,
they must act with humility. In verses 6-10 Jesus emphasizes the
fatherly care which pastors of the Church should have for the “little
ones”—a term which covers everyone in need of special care for what-
ever reason (because they are recent converts, or are not well groun-
ded in Church teaching, or are not yet adults, etc.)... God takes
special care of the weak and will punish those who harm them.

Our Lord shows similar concern for those who are experiencing
spiritual difficulties. Every effort, even an heroic effort, must be made
to seek out the “lost sheep” (verses 12-14). If the Church in general
and each Christian in particular should be concerned to spread the
Gospel, all the more reason for them to try and see that those who
already embraced the faith do not go astray...

Thus, the whole of Chapter 18, the “discourse of the Church”, is a
survey of the future history of the Church during its earthly stage,
and a series of practical rules for conduct for Christians—a kind of
complement to the Sermon on the Mount, (Chapters 5-7), which is
a “magna carta” for the new Kingdom established by Christ.

1-6. Clearly the disciples still suffer from human ambition: they want
to occupy key positions when Jesus comes to establish the Kingdom
on earth (cf. Acts 1:6). To correct their pride, our Lord shows them a
child and tells them that if they want to enter the Kingdom of Heaven,
they must decide to be like children: children are incapable of hating
anyone and are totally innocent of vice, particularly of pride, the worst
vice of all. They are simple and full of trust.

Humility is one of the main pillars of the Christian life. “If you ask
me”, St. Augustine says, “what is the essential thing in the religion
and discipline of Jesus Christ, I shall reply: first humility, second
humility and third humility” (”Letter 118”).

3-4. Applying these words to our Lord’s virtues, Fray Luis de Granada
makes the point that humility is superior to virginity: “If you cannot
imitate the virginity of the humble, then imitate the humility of the
virgin. Virginity is praiseworthy, but humility is more necessary. The
former is recommended to us, the latter is an obligation for us; to the
former we are invited, to the latter we are obliged [...]. And so we see
that the former is celebrated as voluntary sacrifice, the latter required
as an obligatory sacrifice. Lastly, you can be saved without virginity,
but not without humility” (”Summa De La Vida Cristiana”, Book 3,
Part 2, Chapter 10).

5. Receiving a child in Jesus’ name is the same as receiving Jesus
Himself. Because children reflect the innocence, purity, simplicity
and tenderness of our Lord, “In children and in the sick a soul in love
sees Him” ([St] J. Escriva, “The Way”, 419).

10. Jesus warns that giving scandal to little children is a very serious
matter, for they have angels who guard them, who will plead a case
before God against those who led them to commit sin.

In this context He speaks of children having guardian angels. However,
everyone, adult or child, has a guardian angel. “By God’s providence
angels have been entrusted with the office of guarding the human race
and of accompanying every human being so as to preserve him from
any serious dangers [...]. Our Heavenly Father has placed over each
of us an angel under whose protection and vigilance we are” (”St. Pius
V Catechism”, IV, 9, 4).

This means that we should have a trusting relationship with our guar-
dian angel. “Have confidence in your guardian Angel. Treat him as
a lifelong friend—that is what he is—and he will render you a thousand
services in the ordinary affairs of each day” ([St] J. Escriva, “The Way”,
562).

Source: “The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries”.
Biblical text from the Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate.
Commentaries by members of the Faculty of Theology, University
of Navarre, Spain.

Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock, Co. Dublin,
Ireland.
Reprinted with permission from from Four Courts Press and Scepter
Publishers, the U.S. publishers.