"Amo ina ang balatyagon sang inyo Amay indi gid niya luyag nga madula ang bisan isa lang ka gamay nga bata"

Ebanghelyo subong nga Adlaw (Mateo 16:13-23)

Sa sadto nga tion nagpalapit kay Jesus ang iya mga sumulunod kag nagpamangkot, "Sin-o gid bala ang labaw sa tanan nga mga nasakop sa paghari sang Dios?" 

Gintawag ni Jesus ang bata nga gamay kag ginpatindog niya sa ila tunga. 

Dayon nagsiling siya, "Sa pagkamatuod, kon indi kamo magbag-o kag mangin pareho sa magagmay nga mga bata, indi gid kamo masakop sa paghari sang Dios. 

Kay ang tawo nga nagapaubos pareho sa sini nga bata, amo ang labaw sa tanan nga mga nasakop sa paghari sang Dios. 

"Kag ang bisan sin-o nga tungod sa iya pagsunod sa akon nagabaton sa bata nga pareho sini, nagabaton man sa akon. 

"Mag-andam kamo nga indi gid ninyo pagtamayon bisan ang isa sa sining magagmay nga mga bata. Kay ang matuod, ang mga anghel sang Dios nga nagabantay sa ila yara permi sa atubangan sang akon Amay sa langit. 

"Kon ang isa ka tawo may 100 ka mga karnero kag nadula ang isa, ano bala ang iya himuon? Sigurado gid nga bayaan niya ang 99 nga nagapanghalab sa mga bakulod kag pangitaon niya ang karnero nga nadula. 

Kag kon iya ini makita malipay gid siya. Ang matuod, mas dako ang iya kalipay sa isa nga nadula nga iya nakita sang sa 99 nga wala nadula. 

Amo man ina ang balatyagon sang inyo Amay sa langit. Indi gid niya luyag nga madula ang bisan isa lang ka gamay nga bata." 

Prayers:

"Lord Jesus, teach me your way of humility and simplicity of heart that I may find perfect joy in you. May your light shine through me that others may see your truth and love and find hope and peace in you." 

***

Reflection of the Daily Gospel:

Are you surprised to see the disciples discussing with Jesus who is the greatest? Don't we do the same thing? The appetite for glory and greatness seems to be inbred in us. Who doesn't cherish the ambition to be "somebody" whom others admire rather than a "nobody"? Even the psalms speak about the glory God has destined for us. You have made them a little lower than God, and crowned them with glory and honor (Psalm 8:5). Jesus made a dramatic gesture by placing a child next to himself to show his disciples who really is the greatest in the kingdom of God. What can a little child possibly teach us about greatness? Children in the ancient world had no rights, position, or privileges of their own. They were socially at the "bottom of the rung" and at the service of their parents, much like the household staff and domestic servants. What is the significance of Jesus' gesture? Jesus elevated a little child in the presence of his disciples by placing the child in a privileged position of honor at his right side. It is customary, even today, to seat the guest of honor at the right side of the host. Who is the greatest in God's kingdom? The one who is humble and lowly of heart – who instead of asserting their rights willingly empty themselves of pride and self-seeking glory by taking the lowly position of a servant or child. 

What does Jesus' story about a lost sheep tell us about God and his kingdom? Shepherds normally counted their sheep at the end of the day to make sure all were accounted for. Since sheep by their very nature are very social, an isolated sheep can quickly become bewildered and even neurotic. The shepherd's grief and anxiety is turned to joy when he finds the lost sheep and restores it to the fold. What was new in Jesus' teaching was the insistence that sinners must be sought out and not merely mourned for. God does not rejoice in the loss of anyone, but desires that all be saved and restored to fellowship with him. That is why the whole community of heaven rejoices when one sinner is found and restored to fellowship with God (Luke 15:7). Seekers of the lost are much needed today. Do you pray and seek after those you know who have lost their way to God?