Daily Gospel Reading
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."
In today’s Gospel, we’re given a glimpse into the hearts of the disciples, but if we’re honest, we’ll see a reflection of our own hearts as well. The debate among them about who was the greatest reveals something deeply human—the desire to be seen, to be important, to matter. It’s an age-old struggle.
We see this again when James and John approach Jesus, asking if they can sit at His right and left hand in glory (Mark 10:35-37). They weren’t being malicious; they wanted to be close to Him—to share in His greatness. But even in their desire to be near Christ, we catch a glimpse of that all-too-human tendency to seek greatness for ourselves.
And isn’t that impulse alive in us, too? It begs the question: What does it really mean to be great in the kingdom of God? Is it something we can grasp or achieve by our own efforts, as the disciples debated and as James and John hoped?
From my experience in the military and corporate leadership, I’ve seen a wide range of leaders—some who were truly remarkable, and others who fell short. But the ones who left a lasting impression were never those who sought greatness for themselves. The best leaders were those who didn’t lift themselves up, but lifted others; those who made it their mission to serve those under their care. In leadership training today, we hear more and more about "servant leadership," as if it’s a new concept. Truth is, for Christians, this idea has been central to our faith for over 2,000 years.
Just look at Jesus. He didn’t just teach about imbibing servitude—He lived it. Think of the moment when He washed His disciples' feet; foot washing was a task reserved for the lowest of servants. Yet Jesus, their Lord, took on this humble role, teaching them that greatness is found in serving others. Throughout His ministry, He healed the sick, cared for outcasts, and ate with sinners. He called Himself the Good Shepherd who would lay down His life for His sheep (John 10:11). Ultimately, He made the greatest sacrifice of all by dying on the cross for us. As St. Paul reminds us in Philippians 2:6-8:
"Though He was in the form of God, He did not count equality with God something to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross."
Through these acts of humility, Jesus shows us that true greatness is not about being served but about serving others. As He says in Matthew’s Gospel: “The greatest among you will be your servant. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted” (Matthew 23:11-12). And again, “Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave” (Matthew 20:26-27).
Jesus is turning the world’s idea of greatness on its head. It’s not about being the most visible, the most powerful, or the one who claims authority. True greatness is found in becoming the least—humbling ourselves, serving others, and giving our lives away for the sake of love. It’s about the condition of the heart.
That leads to an important distinction: true greatness cannot be achieved from selfish ambition. It’s not something we declare for ourselves. Instead, it’s something that others see in us—it’s observed. You’ve probably heard the saying, "If you have to tell people you're in charge, you're probably not." The same principle applies here: if we’re actively chasing greatness for our own sake, we’re likely to miss it altogether.
But there’s more. Jesus, seeing the intention of their hearts, placed a child beside Him—a symbol of humility and innocence. In doing this, He made it clear: it’s not enough to simply serve. We must serve with the right heart. If we’re serving just to be recognized, applauded, or to boost our own sense of greatness, we’re missing the point. True greatness, in a spiritual sense, only comes when we serve with a pure heart—a heart that loves without needing anything in return. That’s the kind of greatness that leads to holiness.
As Catholic Christians, the Church calls us to serve with charity, which St. Paul says is the greatest of all virtues (1 Corinthians 13:13). When we serve with genuine love—expecting nothing in return but giving everything for the glory of God and the good of others—that’s when we begin to glimpse the kind of greatness Jesus is talking about. It’s a greatness the world may not recognize or applaud, but it’s one that is celebrated in heaven.
So, as we reflect on this Gospel passage, let’s ask ourselves: Am I striving for a greatness that elevates me, or am I striving to lift others up in humble service? Am I seeking to be noticed by the world, or am I content to be known only by God? May we learn to embrace the kind of childlike humility that Jesus calls us to, and through our service, may we find the true greatness that comes from living for Him.
Great insight. Individual greatness is not something that anyone declares about themselves but it is declared by others as the view the “other”. Our goal should always be to lift the others up. That is love.