Let’s place today’s Gospel reading (Matthew 18:15-20) within a wider context. Read from Mt 18:1, which opens with the disciples asking Jesus: “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” Everyone wants to be “top dog”. Jesus teaches them, and us, that unless we “change and become like little children” we “will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”Rather than being puffed up with our own sense of “importance”, we should be concerned about the least among us. Verses 5-10 contain some powerful words of advice about not leading others astray.
