The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to learn from Jesus' example of leadership that focuses on the needs of the community we are called to serve as a good shepherd.
The Reading from the Book of Deuteronomy proclaims the Lord’s Leadership and the Call of Joshua.
a. [31:2] Dt 1:37; 3:23–28; 4:21–24; 34:7; Gn 6:3; Ex 7:7; Nm 20:12; Acts 7:23, 30.
b. [31:3] Dt 1:30–33; 3:22, 28; 9:3.
c. [31:4] Dt 2:26–3:7; 3:21–22; Nm 21:21–35.
f. [31:7–8] Dt 1:21; 31:23; Jos 1:6–9; 10:25.
g. [31:8] Ex 3:12; Jos 1:5, 17; 3:7; 2 Sm 7:9. (Deuteronomy, CHAPTER 31|USCCB, n.d.)
The response is from Deuteronomy 32.
* [32:1–43] The whole song is a poetic sermon, having for its theme the Lord’s benefits to Israel (vv. 1–14) and Israel’s ingratitude and idolatry in turning to the gods of the nations; these sins will be punished by the nations themselves (vv. 15–29); in turn, the foolish pride of the nations will be punished, and the Lord’s honor will be vindicated (vv. 30–43). (Deuteronomy, CHAPTER 32|USCCB, n.d.)
In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus teaches about The Greatest in the Kingdom and The Parable of the Lost Sheep.
* [18:10–14] The first and last verses are peculiar to Matthew. The parable itself comes from Q; see Lk 15:3–7. In Luke it serves as justification for Jesus’ table-companionship with sinners; here, it is an exhortation for the disciples to seek out fellow disciples who have gone astray. Not only must no one cause a fellow disciple to sin, but those who have strayed must be sought out and, if possible, brought back to the community. The joy of the shepherd on finding the sheep, though not absent in Mt 18:13 is more emphasized in Luke. By his addition of Mt 18:10, 14 Matthew has drawn out explicitly the application of the parable to the care of the little ones.
* [18:10] Their angels in heaven…my heavenly Father: for the Jewish belief in angels as guardians of nations and individuals, see Dn 10:13, 20–21; Tb 5:4–7; 1QH 5:20–22; as intercessors who present the prayers of human beings to God, see Tb 13, 12:15, . The high worth of the little ones is indicated by their being represented before God by these heavenly beings.
* [18:11] Some manuscripts add, “For the Son of Man has come to save what was lost”; cf. Mt 9:13. This is practically identical with Lk 19:10 and is probably a copyist’s addition from that source. (Matthew, CHAPTER 18 | USCCB, n.d.)
Tamora Whitney comments that children are innocent and trusting. And Jesus insists that the disciples welcome children and other humble powerless people in Jesus’ name. They are specifically warned against turning away anyone who would seem unimportant.
A shepherd with a big herd who found one of his sheep missing would search for that one sheep, even though he had 99 more, and rejoice at finding that lost sheep. A sheep, childlike, is lowly, and is also trusting. It’s the shepherd’s job to keep track of the sheep and keep them safe. Even if the shepherd might not feel the loss of one sheep out of a hundred, what would happen to the sheep that went astray? It would be in danger, out of the protection of its community. The shepherd has a responsibility to protect all the flock. The shepherd who finds and regains the lost sheep not only feels joy at regaining his property that might be lost but also relief in knowing that the sheep is now safe with the others.
God rejoices in the return of one of his own who was thought to be lost but is returned. But it’s not only because God wants a bigger following, but because he realizes that we, like sheep, out of our community are lost and in danger. Returned to the fold we can be safe in his protection in the Kingdom of Heaven. (Whitney, 2025)
Don Schwager quotes “What it means to become a child of God,” by Epiphanius the Latin (late 5th century).
"Here the Lord not only repressed the apostles' thoughts but also checked the ambition of believers throughout the whole world, so that he might be great who wanted to be least. For with this purpose Jesus used the example of the child, that what he had been through his nature, we through our holy living might become - innocent, like children innocent of every sin. For a child does not know how to hold resentment or to grow angry. He does not know how to repay evil for evil. He does not think base thoughts. He does not commit adultery or arson or murder. He is utterly ignorant of theft or brawling or all the things that will draw him to sin. He does not know how to disparage, how to blaspheme, how to hurt, how to lie. He believes what he hears. What he is ordered he does not analyze. He loves his parents with full affection. Therefore what children are in their simplicity, let us become through a holy way of life, as children innocent of sin. And quite rightly, one who has become a child innocent of sin in this way is greater in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever receives such a person will receive Christ." (excerpt from INTERPRETATION OF THE GOSPELS 27) (Schwager, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler reflects on the texts of today. The Deuteronomy reading is a commendation of Moses to the people of Israel reminding them of the good the Lord has done . They are urged to be strong and steadfast even if Moses is going away. To receive the Kingdom, we have to trust, be innocent and meek with wonder and awe and we will be able to embrace the kingdom. The idea of the Guardian Angels assigned to protect us from material and moral danger is resonant in the Gospel. Friar Jude suggests the 99 could complain about seeking the lost sheep. The lost one needs help. The broken need the attention calling Jesus to go out of His way to save our brother and sister. We are called to the same compassion.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, writes of conversion as an experience of participating in divine reality.
A participatory theology says, “I am being chosen, I am being led, I am being used.” After conversion, you know that your life is not about you; you are about life! You are about God. You’re an instance of both the agony and the ecstasy of God that is already happening inside of you, and all you can do is say yes to it. That’s conversion and it changes everything.
True union does not absorb distinctions, but actually intensifies them. The more we give of ourselves in creative union with another, the more we become our authentic self. This is mirrored in the Trinity: perfect giving and perfect receiving between three persons who are all still completely themselves. The more we become our True Self, the more capable we are of not overprotecting the boundaries of the false self. We have nothing to protect after transformation, and that’s the great freedom and the great happiness we see in converted people like Paul. As Paul puts it, “Because of Christ, I now consider my former advantages as disadvantages.… All of it is mere rubbish if only I can have a place in him” (Philippians 3:7–8). (Rohr, n.d.)
We invoke the Spirit to illuminate our action in response to our Baptismal Anointing as priest, prophet, and especially leader who loves and cares for his sheep.
References
Deuteronomy, CHAPTER 31|USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Bible Readings. Retrieved August 12, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/deuteronomy/31?1
Deuteronomy, CHAPTER 32|USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Bible Readings. Retrieved August 12, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/deuteronomy/32?3
Matthew, CHAPTER 18 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved August 12, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/18?1
Rohr, R. (n.d.). Paul’s Conversion and Our Own. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved August 12, 2025, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/pauls-conversion-and-our-own/
Schwager, D. (n.d.). Who Is the Greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved August 12, 2025, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2025&date=aug12
Whitney, T. (2025, August 12). Daily Reflection August 12, 2025 | Creighton Online Ministries. Creighton Online Ministries. Retrieved August 12, 2025, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/daily-reflections/daily-reflection-august-12-2025
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