Homily – Tuesday of the 19th Week (Deuteronomy 31 & Matthew 18)

Brothers and sisters,

Today we stand on two hills at once.

On one hill, in Deuteronomy, Moses looks out over the Promised Land. He won’t enter it himself — his mission is nearly complete — but he tells the people:

“Be strong and courageous… it is the Lord who goes before you.”

On the other hill, in Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus puts a child in front of His disciples and says: “Unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the Kingdom of Heaven.”

At first glance, “be strong” and “be childlike” seem like opposites. But in God’s Kingdom, they belong together.

In Deuteronomy 31, Moses is speaking to a people about to face battles and uncertainty. He knows their weakness — their tendency to grumble, doubt, and forget the Lord.

So he tells them: courage will not come from their numbers or their weapons. True courage comes from this unshakable truth: “The Lord goes before you.”

That’s the Catholic understanding of faith — our security is not self-confidence, but God-confidence. We are not strong because of our skill or cleverness, but because we are not alone.

In the Gospel, the disciples are debating rank — “Who is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?”

Jesus answers by calling a child over and placing him in their midst.

Children, in that culture, had no status, no power, no rights. They were entirely dependent on others for protection and provision.

And Jesus says: That’s what greatness looks like in My Kingdom.

To be childlike means:

• Trusting the Father’s care
• Letting go of self-importance
• Being ready to receive rather than demand

Put these together and the message becomes clear: True strength is found in dependence on God.

Moses says, “Be strong — the Lord goes before you.”
Jesus says, “Be like a child — depend entirely on the Father.”

The world tells us independence is strength.
The Gospel tells us dependence on God is strength.

This is why the martyrs could face death without fear — they were anchored not in themselves, but in the God who goes before them and never forsakes them.

For us Catholics, this dependence is not vague spirituality. It is concrete and sacramental.

We meet the God who goes before us in Baptism, when we are made His children.
We are strengthened for the fight in Confirmation.
We are fed and sustained in the Eucharist.
We are restored when we fall in Confession.

Every grace we need to live with courage and humility has already been placed in our hands.

So how do we take this into the week ahead?

• Face your “Jordan” — whatever challenge lies in front of you — knowing God has already gone before you.
• Ask for childlike trust in your prayer: “Father, I am Yours. Lead me today.”
• Rely on the sacraments — they are not extras, they are your lifeline.
• Stop chasing status — look instead for ways to serve, forgive, and pray first.

Moses tells us: “It is the Lord who goes before you; He will be with you; He will not fail you or forsake you.”
Jesus tells us: “Unless you turn and become like children, you will not enter the Kingdom.”

The paradox of the Catholic life is this: to be strongest, we must kneel; to be greatest, we must be least; to be free, we must belong entirely to God.

So here’s the take-home for today:
Be strong — but not in yourself. Be great — but only by becoming small. Let God go before you, and you will never be lost.