25 July 2027 · Syro-Malankara Rite
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“Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 18:3
The disciples ask: “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” Jesus calls a child, puts the child among them and says: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever becomes humble like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.” Children are not only the future of the Church; they show us now how to trust, to receive, to depend on the Father.
Jesus speaks with great seriousness about harm done to children: “If any of you put a stumbling block before one of these little ones who believe in me, it would be better for you if a great millstone were fastened around your neck and you were drowned in the depth of the sea… Take care that you do not despise one of these little ones; for, I tell you, in heaven their angels continually see the face of my Father.” “It is not the will of your Father in heaven that one of these little ones should be lost.” Protecting and forming children is a holy duty of every family and parish.
St Paul gives the heart of what we teach them: “if you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For one believes with the heart and so is justified, and one confesses with the mouth and so is saved… Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Faith is believed in the heart and spoken with the lips. Sunday School exists so that children may learn both.
At Marah the water was bitter, and the people could not drink. God showed Moses a piece of wood; when it was thrown into the water, the water became sweet. Then God said: “I am the LORD who heals you.” The Fathers saw in that wood the Cross, which makes the bitter waters of life sweet. In Rome Paul, a prisoner, “welcomed all who came to him, proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness.” Teachers of the faith carry on his work.
Theme: “Unless you become like children.”
Jesus places a child in the midst of his disciples and teaches that the humble are the greatest. In the 2025–26 lectionary this Sunday was Sunday School Day: a day to thank catechists and renew our duty to hand on the faith.
“But I have calmed and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with its mother; my soul is like the weaned child that is with me.” Psalm 131:2
“Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever becomes humble like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 18:3–4
Apply: Spend five minutes in silent, trusting prayer each night before sleep.
“Keep these words that I am commanding you today in your heart. Recite them to your children and talk about them when you are at home and when you are away, when you lie down and when you rise.” Deuteronomy 6:6–7
“So it is not the will of your Father in heaven that one of these little ones should be lost.” Matthew 18:14
Apply: Thank your children's catechists, and pray with your children every evening.
“I will not bring upon you any of the diseases that I brought upon the Egyptians; for I am the LORD who heals you.” Exodus 15:26
“Because if you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” Romans 10:9
Apply: Make the sign of the cross before meals, even in public.
The kingdom belongs to the childlike, and children belong to the kingdom.
Let us become little before God and great in our care for the little ones.
Take-home resolution: Support Sunday school generously, and begin family preparation for the Fifteen Days' Fast next Sunday.
Dear brothers and sisters, the disciples asked Jesus: “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” Jesus did not answer with a name. He called a child and stood the child among them: “Unless you change and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” A child trusts, receives, asks, and is not ashamed of needing help. That is how we must stand before God.
Then Jesus speaks very strongly: whoever causes one of these little ones to stumble would be better off with a millstone around his neck in the depths of the sea. Their angels always see the Father's face. Children are precious to God. Every family and every parish must protect them, form them, and never give them scandal by our lives.
St Paul tells us what we must teach them: “if you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” That is the work of our Sunday School teachers, who give their Sunday mornings to teach our children the faith. Let us thank them and pray for them today.
At Marah the water was bitter; God showed Moses a piece of wood, and the water became sweet. The Fathers saw there the Cross, which makes the bitterness of life sweet. Let us teach our children to love the Cross and the Lord who heals. And next Sunday, 1 August, we begin the Fifteen Days' Fast in honour of our Mother's Assumption. Amen.
Children, today Jesus says something wonderful about you! The disciples asked who is the greatest, and Jesus put a child in the middle and said: “Be like this child!”
You trust God like you trust your mum and dad. That makes Jesus very happy.
Today, say thank you to your Sunday School teacher! And let's pray: “Jesus, I believe you are Lord!”
Lord Jesus, you placed a child in the midst of your disciples. Make us humble and trusting like children; help us protect and form the little ones you love; bless our catechists and Sunday School teachers; and make the bitter waters of our lives sweet by your Cross. Amen.