Today some people interpret political events, wars, and terrorist attacks as the hand of God. In Isaiah, the prophet sees the invasion of the Assyrians and all of the destruction as the hand of God as punishment for Israel's sins. But there is a far more rational and likely explanation: Israel tried to play power-politics with the nastiest superpower of their day and lost. It might be a good idea for us to accept responsibility for our choices and our actions - both our own and those of our society and nation. But some of the message in Isaiah still applies: we cannot live a life of injustice, selfishness, cruelty, or greed and expect that we will get away with it. Sooner or later, everything catches up on us - both the good and the bad. So let's make sure that it is our kindness, mercy, justice, and concern for others that finally hunts us down!

In the Gospel passage Jesus praises God for the 'little ones'. God has been revealed to those who have no status or power in society, even those despised by the high and mighty. God can only be revealed to us when we humble ourselves and admit that when it comes to God and God's ways, we know very little. We also need to give up control and let God be the master of our lives. Being simple or an 'infant' does not mean being ignorant, merely open and willing to be taught. We should have the eagerness and joy of a child for learning God's ways.