An argument arose among the disciples
about which of them was the greatest.
We only argue about being the greatest because our conception of greatness is so wrong. In our minds greatness is what the world thinks of it. It is power, honor, and prestige. Others should differ to us, making us free to live however we want. But in the Kingdom, to be great is something entirely different.
Jesus himself reveals in what true greatness consists. He is the one who is equal to God yet does not grasp that equality. He is the king of kings (see First Timothy 6:15) yet he comes not to be served but to serve. The heavens are his throne and the earth is his footstool yet he washes the disciples feet at the Last Supper. He knows all things yet he does nothing apart from his Father's will.
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.
Thus the economy of earthly greatness is flipped on its head. Jesus himself perfectly embodies childlike greatness by his absolute trust in his Father even though he would seem to be the most equipped of all men to need no one else. We learn from Jesus that there is something greater in this random child he places by his side than in the great ones of the earth.
Jesus calls us to be childlike as he himself is childlike. He calls us to receive others not in terms of their worldly status or what they can do for us but in terms of how God sees them as his beloved and innocent children, trusting in him with nothing to offer.
In fact, only with a childlike heart can we hope to endure the misfortunes of this world as well as does Job. We assume, wrongly, that we honorable people are more equipped to deal with tragedy. But it is not so. Those who rely on nothing but God find that only their foundation is unshaken when tragedy comes.
"Naked I came forth from my mother's womb,
and naked shall I go back again.
The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away;
blessed be the name of the LORD!"
Thérèse of Lisieux teaches us how to be small and childlike. She herself turns aside from every prideful impulse and seeks the little way of love. Because she allows herself to be so small she is able to trust in God's help even in the little challenges of life which most of us pridefully handle on our own. But it is this path, which does not insist on being too great even for the little things, that is the quickest path to God.
No comments:
Post a Comment