Homily for Monday of the 26th Week in Ordinary Time

In our Gospel passage today, Jesus, responding to the squabble of His disciples about which of them was the greatest, identifies Himself with the least of society, that is, like a child. In that ancient world and culture, children had no rights, or power, or influence. They were far from what the disciples wanted in their dispute about rank and status.

 

As always, the LORD sides with those who are marginalized by society. He is present in the ordinary citizen as well as the poor and downtrodden, in those who seem to have the least to offer society. Since He can be encountered in such every day and mundane ways, it is easy to miss Him, but He is very much present in those encounters. Of course, we encounter Him in a special way in the Eucharist, but He is no less present in the people we encounter every day of our lives.+