Reading and meditation on the Word of God on Tuesday of the 19th week in ordinary time, August 12, 2025

Delivered by Samuel Ivan Gunarsa from the Parish Mary of All the Nations in the Diocese of Bogor, Indonesia. Deuteronomy 31: 1-8; Rs psalm Deut 32: 3-4a.7.8.9.12; Matthew 18: 1-5.10.12-14.THE SMALL IS COUNTED Our meditation today is entitled: TheSmall Is Counted. There was a boy of the first grade primary school praying inhis room. He spoke to God in this manner: "Lord, even though I am stillsmall, I have a great goal. If You want to know, I want to be the President ofmy country. Bless me Lord Jesus, so that my dream can come true ". In all stories of salvation thatdescribe the relationship between God and mankind, stories about the littleones who either suffer or underestimated, but have privilege to be important infront of God. God's choice is always on those who are young and small. Fromsmall, they will become big and God uses them to realize His plans. The book ofDeuteronomy says that Moses could not accompany his people through the Jordanto reach the promised land. His younger and small successor, Joshua would     takeon that responsibility. Jesus wants each of His followers tohave a life style like a child. Obedience, humility and dependence on God arethe fundamental virtues for a follower of Christ. The one who has these virtueswill have power to control the vices of arrogance, selfishness, stubbornnessand self-centered ambition. That is the basic condition to be able to enter andenjoy the kingdom of heaven. We have to act like a child and welcome the littleones. It is true that the least is countedby God, and this really teaches us to appreciate and count the small things.How is it possible for something or someone to become big, if it has neverstarted from small or young? God uses our natural processes to instill faithand divine wisdom in us. We grow in faith and relationship with Him departingfrom the beginning which is humble and small. How can we have a big idea, value andstructure, if not the small elements or parts that have to be united andshaped? The fact a large and beautiful building is made up of the bricks,cement, tiles, woods and so on. A renowned and great professor is highlyadmired, truly he must have departed from the beginning of his study, struggle,and helped by different factors. So it is true that the small one is very muchcounted. We should always count and be grateful for the small elements thathave shaped us to this day. Let us ask for God's blessing on all this.Let's pray. In the name of theFather ... Your love and care, O Father, are so great and marvelous to us.Bless us for today, so that every experience that occurs today shows that Youreally care for us. Hail Mary full of grace ... In the name of the Father ...