Like Children, Like Sheep

Gospel Reflection for Tuesday August 12, 2025 - Matthew 18:1-5,10, 12-14

The humility of a child. As an adult it is not something that I think of often, but in today’s Gospel, Jesus draws our attention immediately to this fact.

Children, in their simplicity, don’t pretend to control the world around them. They depend on the care of others in almost every way. They accept that they cannot hold everything together. And while that lack of control can feel like weakness to us, Jesus says it’s exactly that humility that ill help us enter the Kingdom of Heaven.

As adults we grasp at control, and spend much of our lives trying to manage outcomes, from out schedules, to our homes, our children, to our health and our relationships. We make routines, plans and goals as if they were guarantees. While these are all goods, Jesus is reminding us of another reality — ultimately we are not in control.

When we realize this, and humble ourselves like children, we stop pretending to be our on saviors. We admit our weakness, our need. We become open to being carried by God’s love, by His wisdom, by His timing and by His mercy.

Which leads us to the second part of today’s Gospel message: the shepherd rejoicing over a sheep that has wandered off. Much like a child, sheep are dependent on the shepherd. They need shelter, protection and nourishment — all provided for by the shepherd. When a sheep goes astray, it cannot find its way home alone. It must be sought after, lifted up and carried back. When it is returned, the shepherd’s joy overflows.

Friends, we may not like letting go of control. It can feel like failure, like weakness, like defeat. But in God’s Kingdom, letting go is the way home. We cannot save ourselves through our own means or by holding on tightly to the very things we’re being called to release. The moment we stop running, stop striving, and simply let ourselves be found, Heaven itself rejoices.

Today I challenge you to take 5 minutes and ask God where in your life you’ve been holding on too tightly, and where He is waiting for you to let go so He can come and carry you.

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."