Word of the Week

25th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Least: Elachistos (GK.): meaning, “smallest”, or “least”. This term possesses the context of being small in size; amount in the management of affairs; importance; authority; the estimation of men; rank, and excellence of persons.

In the Catechism’s treatment on least, the CCC draws our attention to Divine Revelation and the Sermon on the Mount. There, Christ revealed that he did not come to abolish the law but fulfill and transform it in the grace of the new covenant. For all those who are faithful to the commandments of the Church with their life and teaching will be counted great in the Kingdom of God, and for all those who are unfaithful in their life and teaching will be counted least in the Kingdom of God (cf. Mt.5:17-19) (CCC 577-578).  In addition to the handling of what is great and small in the Kingdom of God, the CCC adds that all the affairs of the heart will be brought to light come judgment day.  It states: “Our attitude to our neighbor will disclose acceptance or refusal of grace and divine love (cf. Mt.5:22, 7:1-5). On the last day, Jesus will say: ‘Truly I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me’ (Mt.25:40)” (CCC, 678; cf. 932, 2643). Lastly, avoiding any and all sin, (cf. 1863), we are called to be in solidarity with the body of Christ where “the least of our acts done in charity redound to the profit of all” (953).

The Greek term elachistos can be found thirteen times in the New Testament. As noted above, among these passages, include counting yourself last to be in favorable standing with God (cf. Mt.5:17-19) and being at the service of the outcast to be at the service of the Body of Christ (cf. Mt.25:40-45). By the words “as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me”, Jesus identifies himself with the poor and the lowly.  In fact, his whole ministry is marked by his attention to the lowly and estranged and our need to clothe and feed those who are most in need (cf. Mt.25:40-45, 4:23-24, 8:1-17, 11:4-6). In addition to this understanding of least as it relates to rank, is that definition that speaks to being faithful in very little (cf. Lk.19:17), which draws our attention to the gospel reading for this Twenty-Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time, the Parable of the Dishonest Steward (cf. Lk.16:1-13). One of the many truths that rest at the heart of this parable is that we are creatures of habit and we are called to be practitioners of a steadfast simplicity being faithful to the tiniest details of life. Consider the words of Christ: “he who is faithful in very little is faithful in much, and he who is dishonest in a very little is dishonest also in much” (Lk.16:10).

While driving home recently from work, I got stuck behind a large truck that had a bumper sticker reading: “live for God, don’t sweat the small stuff”. I could not help but think, “Does not God live in the details of life?” “Does not God want us to bring him into every aspect of our life?” In other words: “Does not God want us to sweat the small stuff?” Certainly, I can appreciate such a bumper sticker that ought to bring to mind man’s tendency to concern ourselves with trivial matters, BUT all matters nonetheless are only trivial if we make them so by not including God in them. Point if fact, sweat the small stuff by offering them to God and let God take those fine points in life and do with what he wishes. Remember the call of Rom.12:1-3, to offer all that we are and all that we do for the glory of God.

“Little things are indeed little, but to be faithful in little things is a great thing.”
--Blessed Teresa of Calcutta
Primary Texts Consulted

•  Catholic Bible. Suggested trans. Revised Standard Version, Catholic Edition.
•  Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2nd Edition, 1997.

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