Iron & Altar

"It is not the will of your heavenly Father that one of these little ones be lost." - Matthew 18:14

The disciples were arguing about greatness and Jesus put a child in the center of the argument. Not as an illustration. As the answer. The one who becomes like this child is the greatest.

In Matthew's world, children had no social standing. They were the bottom of the household, the ones with nothing to offer in the status economy. Jesus is not being sentimental about innocence. He is pointing to the person in the room with no leverage, no position, no ability to compete - and saying that person is the model.

Then he says something about the little ones that does not let you off gently: their angels in heaven always look upon the face of the Father. Despise one of them and you are despising someone the Father is looking at right now.

Ezekiel's mark of protection goes to those who grieve over what is wrong - who have not become numb. The men who pass by the abomination without mourning get no mark. What Ezekiel describes and what Jesus describes are related: the man who receives the little one, who refuses to despise him, who goes after the one who has strayed - that is the man whose heart has not gone numb.

Brother, who is the little one in your life right now - the person with no leverage, the one being left out of the conversation, the strayed one you know about? And have you gone numb, or do you still feel the pull to go search?

Name the strayed one you are carrying. The specific person - a son, a friend, someone you know is far. Then tell another man: I am carrying this one. I have not stopped looking. The shepherd leaves the ninety-nine. That is the pattern you are in.

Lord, let me not become numb. Let me still feel the pull toward the little one, the strayed one, the one being left out. I will not let it be the will of the Father that this one is lost if I can help it. Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us. Amen.