March 25 | Matthew 18:10-20
DAILY READING
Matthew 18:10-20
REFLECTION
Little Ones
by Mary Alice McGinnis
The words in the beginning of today’s reading caused me to ponder.
"See that you do not despise one of these little ones."
Who are these “little ones” Jesus is speaking about? We often understand this to mean children. In fact, in the Jewish culture of Jesus’ day, children were regarded more like property than individuals, more of an obligation than real people with a significant place in society.
Children are not wise or knowledgeable, they are ignorant of many things. They are dependent, vulnerable, small, and insignificant in size and in importance.
Who are “little ones” who are all around me every day? Is there a broader spectrum of individuals that I see as less-than, small, insignificant, unimportant, or even lower than myself? Maybe there are people whom I think “just don’t get it"?
I don’t know about you, but I have experienced times of feeling brushed off, insignificant, and unworthy of someone else’s time and attention.
What does it mean to despise these “little ones"?