Daily Scripture Reflection & Prayer: August 11,2026

LECTIO - Read Scripture Text:   Matthew 18:1-5, 10, 12-14

The disciples drew near to Jesus and said, “Who is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven?” Jesus called to himself a child, placed him in their midst, and said, “Truly, I tell you, unless you be converted and become as little children, you will not enter the Kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven. And whoever receives one such child as this in my name receives me.

“See that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I tell you that their angels in heaven always behold the face of my heavenly Father… What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them goes astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine in the hills and go in search of the stray? And if he finds it, truly, I tell you, he rejoices more over that sheep than over the ninety-nine that did not stray. In this way, it is not the will of the heavenly Father that one of these little ones should perish.”

MEDITATIO - Meditate on text, allow the LORD to touch us with His Word:

How humble am I? How reliant on the LORD?

BREAKING OPEN THE TEXT:

In today’s gospel, we hear Jesus’ rebuke of the disciples’ ambition by pointing to a child, humble and dependent, and calling His followers to essential humility and reliance upon the LORD as the keys to the Kingdom’s greatness.

ORATIO – Lifting our minds and hearts to the LORD in prayer:

Lord, strip away my pride and flood my being with humble trust in You. Open me to your transformative love and give me your compassionate heart so that I might be a help to others on the Way. Amen.

CONTEMPLATIO – Sitting with the LORD in silence for a minute or more