14^th Sunday in Ordinary Time   revisited

Gospel – Matthew 11:25-30

The “Little Ones”

Open Market, Jerusalem

There’s a story about a rather eccentric teacher who was always looking for creative ways to test (torture) his students.  Sometimes it was crazy project and sometimes it was a wacky exam that tested not just their knowledge but also their experience.

So one day he hands out a test, typical normal test, Q/A, except this was the last question.  What’s the name of the school janitor?  One of his students looked at the question and thought – I know he’s short, wears glasses and has light brown hair but how in the world would I know his name?  So he left it blank and turned in his paper.

When class was over, he went up to the teacher and asked whether that last question would count in the test grade.  Absolutely, said the teacher.  Throughout your whole life, you will find that every person you cross paths with is important, significant.  They deserve your respect, your attention and care, even if all you do is smile and say hello. 

Everyone is important!  Everyone is significant! 

In today’s Gospel, Jesus reflects on the “little ones” and the belief that God has hidden things from the wise and the learned and revealed them only to these  “little ones”.  Too often, I think, we look on those 2 words as referring to children – that “out of the mouths of babes comes wisdom”.

But perhaps this phrase has a much broader meaning!  What about all the people that society calls “little” – the unimportant, the poor, the marginalized, the forgotten, the ignored, the invisible!  These are exactly the people to whom Jesus directed His mission – the poor, the sick, women, the outcasts, the gentiles, the Samaritans.  All those who needed to hear the word of God, to feel His compassion and His love, to appreciate His wisdom.

These are the people who best understood Jesus’ words and message.  These are the people who have no illusions about having wealth or power or influence.  These are not the “wise ones” in society who think they have all the answers. They are not the self-righteous who think they are in control. 

They are the check-out clerks, janitors, the hospital cleaning crew, the grocery store worker, the animal shelter care-giver.  They are all the service workers – nurses, medical assistants, EMT’s, food pantry workers, the bus driver, the barista at the coffee shop, the security guard, the hotel maid and restaurant cook, the newspaper delivery guy, the mailman and the Fedex guy,

that street-corner musician and the baker.  The sandwich vendor and the kid who mows the neighbor’s lawn. These are the Little Ones.  They may struggle to put food on the table but still share with others who have nothing.  They are willing to give their clothes to someone who seemed to need them more.   These are the little ones who seem to have gotten the message, who share the good news that Jesus came to announce. 

Those are the little ones!  These are the ones that St. Paul speaks of in the 2^nd reading – those who live not in the flesh but in the Spirit!  Those in whom the Spirit of God dwells!  Those who do labor and are burdened but who have put on the yoke of Christ and have found rest. 

Jesus reminds us today - Everyone is important!  Everyone is significant!

But especially the “little ones,” those faithful “un-famous” people,  the ones ignored and taken for granted by today’s society, who have heard the wisdom of God, who live by it, and show all of us the way to God- if we only pay attention.

The Lord reminds us that He lifts up all who are falling, He raises up all who are bowed down.  The Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and rich in kindness, good and compassionate to all.