In just the same way, it is not the will of your heavenly Father

12 AUGUST (Mt 18,1-5.10.12-14)

The community lives if it observes perennial rules, which are the source of its own life. The first rule, the one that is at the foundation of all truth, that gives truth to all the others, which makes us real tools for the edification of the community of the Lord, which is his Holy Church, wants, sets, orders and commands that each of us makes himself the smallest and the least of all. While in the world one rules from above, putting himself over the others, in the community of the Lord one governs serving from the bottom, each becoming the smallest of all, rather vying to become the last of the least. As in the world you always race to be the first of all in every field, in the community of the disciples of the Lord, the race is in the opposite direction: we study, we pray, we are committed, we always exercise to be the last of all, the servant of all and how to occupy the last place.

The second rule wants that everyone is perfect, exemplary in every virtue. Therefore, everyone is called to commit himself to avoid a scandal, any scandal of any kind, whether that of immorality as well as that of his science of faith. The science of faith must always be lived governed by the highest charity toward the brother younger in the faith. Not always one has to act according to the faith, but always according to charity. The rule of faith requires that we act always starting from the faith of the smallest, never from the one of the strongest, more robust, more grown up in it. One must give up science, right and just for him, so that the Gospel is not compromised in the heart of the brothers who still do not have our same maturity.

At that time 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 humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever receives one child such as this in my name receives me. “Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea. Woe to the world because of things that cause sin! Such things must come, but woe to the one through whom they come! If your hand or foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter into life maimed or crippled than with two hands or two feet to be thrown into eternal fire. And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter into life with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into fiery Gehenna.  “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.

The third rule that today’s passage presents us to the heart is seriously challenging. The Christian community does not exclude, it includes; it does not turn away, it approaches; it does not send away, it searches; it does not separate itself from sin, it rejoices for its conversion. However, the mediator of the conversion of the sinner is the Christian. Who then is the disciple of Jesus? He is the one that lives only to operate salvation, redemption and justification, at the cost of his own life. His life is given to the Father as an instrument of redemption, as a sacrifice for the sin of the world.

If my life was offered to God for the redemption of my brethren, I have to live everything on the basis of redemption. If the brother moves away, I look for him. If he sins, I forgive and welcome him. If he gets lost, I point him the path of truth and justice. If he loses Christ, I show him to him in all his mercy, goodness, charity and truth. If he gets tired, I become his stick and his foot. Doing everything for the brother, always becoming all things to everyone and for everyone, never judging, condemning, criticizing and grumbling, but always showing all the love of Lord Jesus, we become operators of true salvation.

Virgin Mary, Mother of the Redemption, Angels and Saints make us true community of Jesus.