Little ones and their safety

About the little ones, to whose safety Jesus assigns us, St. John Chrysostom wrote an analogy with soldiers in battle:

Straightway as we come out of our house, let us have this one object in view, this earnest care above all, to rescue him that is in danger...For in a war too, and in an engagement, the soldier who is looking to this only how he may save himself by flight, destroys the rest also with himself; much as on the other hand the noble-minded one, and he who stands in arms in defense of the others, with the others preserves himself also.

Questions for Thursday morning in Matthew 18

We continue our look into the Lord's teaching, as recorded my Matthew in his 18th chapter. A few questions to consider are:

1. Why is it significant to Jesus that a set of angels are able to look upon the face of God the Father? Why does the seeing of God's face by angels inspire you not to despise the little ones?
2. When Jesus speaks about cutting off a hand, he is actually using a figure of speech, to instruct us about something other than a hand. What is he talking about?
3. Jesus says we can gain after bringing a dispute to a brother. Why is it considered a profit? What goes in the profit column?
4. Is it eye-for-eye vengeance if the church executes the punishment, instead of the wronged individual?
5. Are the IRS tax collectors of that day beyond redemption? Can you think of one who was eventually redeemed by the Lord?
6. 70×7 = 490. Does God throw the book at you after #490?

The 18th chapter is also loaded with useful guidance for the man who would be a doer of the Word. Let's dig into it for more wisdom in the morning.

Our common priesthood of the faithful and its altar

We studied the meaning of the high priesthood of Jesus in Hebrews 7, and in this, we thought of our own priesthood, not the ordained priesthood, but the common priesthood of the faithful:

the common priesthood of the faithful is exercised by the unfolding of baptismal grace - a life of faith, hope, and charity, a life according to the Spirit... [CCC 1547]

One way to think about the offering of the common priesthood of the faithful is that the life of faith leads to actions, e.g., the works of mercy.

And every kindness in the works of mercy comes at a price, when we do not focus on our personal empire of money and prestige but we focus on helping another person. This is a good offering, and it has its own kind of altar.

Questions for next time

On July 23 we will finish up Mark 1 and push deeper into chapter 2. Here are some questions to think about for next time:

1. Why does Jesus undergo the baptism of John the Baptist?
   
2. Why does Jesus instruct so many NOT to tell others who He is?
   
3. If Jesus can heal leprosy, is it important to seek Him in the sacrament of confession?
   
4. In chapter 2, Jesus acts twice for a paralytic man. Why did take the second action, healing the paralytic man's body?
   
5. What was the price Jesus paid when he healed the paralytic man's body?
   

We will discuss these and other question on early this Thursday morning!