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The Gospel according to Luke (9:46-50)
An argument arose among the disciples
about which of them was the greatest.
Jesus realized the intention of their hearts and took a child
and placed it by his side and said to them,
“Whoever receives this child in my name receives me,
and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.
For the one who is least among all of you
is the one who is the greatest.”
Then John said in reply,
“Master, we saw someone casting out demons in your name
and we tried to prevent him
because he does not follow in our company.”
Jesus said to him, “Do not prevent him, for whoever is not against you is for you.”
Reflection:
We all remember this saying from the Disney movie, “Snow White” which is said by the Wicked Witch? “Mirror, mirror on the wall, who is the greatest of them all”? Today’s gospel is all about eliminating that perception and judgement and promoting equality for all. It’s not about who being the greatest even though our culture strives on who is the best, the MVP, the G.O.A.T. (greatest of all time). Instead of competing with each other we should follow the footsteps of Jesus as he came not to be served but to serve. It’s as simple as that! But … is it that simple for us in this segregated culture that we live in? We are raised not just by our parents but through teachers, mentors, coaches, and social media that we should pick and choose. We pick and choose therefore, we are separating ourselves in sports teams, political opinions, religious tendencies, work protocol, society issues such as homelessness, church ministries and even in family. In any of these examples, is it ok to have a difference of opinion? Yes! But is it worth taking it to the next level which breaks out into an argument and eventually separation? NO!
We have all experienced this is some form or another. Whether we are the favorite kid; or favorite employee or athlete or deacon or whatever. In our lives and how we are raised in humanity, we are taught to be first or number one. What makes a person great? Is it power, or wealth, or skills, or beauty, or giftedness of one kind or another? Don’t get me wrong because I think posing that competitive spirit is great? But not for the sake of demoralizing someone else.
But the innocence of children is what Jesus is asking for. In the Kingdom of God greatness is judged by one’s capacity to serve others. Those who would enter must make themselves humble by recognizing that, like little children, they are powerless over the circumstances of their own lives. They are completely dependent on God and the people who raise them to provide for them what they need and to protect them from harm and teach them to be righteous. To receive the kingdom of God as a child means thoroughly humbling yourself, both spiritually and materially, standing in solidarity with those whom society has deemed “less worthy” or unimportant. So, it is the little people of the earth, those who serve the rest of us, who turn out to be the greatest! That’s why I act like a child sometimes … OK, most of the time!
This is important to understand, because our Lord always desires to address our sin the very moment it begins. This image of Jesus gently bringing a child before the disciples so as to teach them about true greatness should help us to realize that we should never fear these gentle promptings of grace.
Action of the Day: Identify your difference of opinion in any matter. Identify someone who you have hurt and ask God to help you to be child-like and ask that person for forgiveness.
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