Conflicts have their origin in human passions which are at war within us. God made this world for us and found it to be good. It is we out of selfishness, seek to use God's gifts in a way contrary to the values of the Gospel and thus become enemies of God. Yet God loves us and appeals to us to have a change of heart so that we would inherit eternal life for ever. We are to hear that appeal God makes to us through the sacrifice Jesus offered on the cross, then we will be able to consider who we are and who God is.

It requires humility to acknowledge one's nothingness before God and it needs the simplicity of a child to return to God and be led by His Spirit. Do I allow God to lead me in my life, in the decisions and choices I make, in the attitudes I take wherever I am or in whatever I do?

In today's Gospel, Jesus places a child in front of His disciples and tells them that they should not hesitate to serve even such a little child because any service rendered however small it may be and however insignificant the recepient of that service. God still considers it as done to Him. Such is the Christian attitude in life: to be a simple person, humble before God and for God's love to be of service to others. How do I see myself in this respect?