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. 11 [ 12 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? 13 And if he finds it, amen, I say to you, he rejoices more over it than over the ninety-nine that did not stray. 14 In just the same way, it is not the will of your heavenly Father that one of these little ones be lost.
Jesus continued his warning to the disciples about caring for the ‘little ones’ and the dire consequences that could result from leading them astray and causing them to sin (Mt. 18:6-7). Disciples should not have arrogant or dismissive attitudes towards those of lesser stature or those who are spiritually immature in the community because their angels stand in God’s presence to defend them (Ps. 91:11) if they are wronged or neglected and lose faith. The disciples might incur God’s righteous judgment as a result (v. 10).
The parable was used by the early Church to explain that God shows great concern for the little ones so Church leaders must show concern for them if they stray from the faith and try to bring them back. Speaking through the prophet Ezekiel, God said “The lost I will search out, the strays I will bring back (Ezek. 34:1).” It is God’s will that none who has turned to Him through Jesus Christ be lost. Jesus said, “My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one can take them out of the Father’s hand (Jn. 10:29).”
Almighty God, grant us the will to be merciful to others and the wisdom to lead those who stray back to you. This we pray through Christ our Lord. Amen!
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References
Chiu, José Enrique Aguilar, et al. The Paulist Biblical Commentary. Paulist Press, 2018.
Brown, Raymond Edward, et al. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Upper Saddle River, NJ, United States, Prentice Hall, 1990.
Chiu, José Enrique Aguilar, et al. The Paulist Biblical Commentary. Paulist Press, 2018.
Brown, Raymond Edward, et al. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Upper Saddle River, NJ, United States, Prentice Hall, 1990.
Orchard, Bernard, et al. A Catholic Commentary on Holy Scripture. Feb. 1953.
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