Thoughts for the Day

An argument arose..(among the disciples)..as to which one of them was the greatest. But Jesus, aware of their inner thoughts, took a little child and put it by his side, and said to them, 'Whoever welcomes this child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me; for the least among all of you is the greatest.'

(New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

Cast your mind back to a time when you were at primary school, perhaps in the playground. Do you remember how teams were chosen? Two children would act as captains and then they would take it in turns to choose their team. Each would choose the best person for their team, and if you were absolutely rubbish at games, then you would be left to the last one or two. The feeling of isolation at this point was horrible, knowing that no-one wanted you.

Yet here are the disciples in our reading today from St Luke's Gospel playing a game of choosing who is best and therefore whom they consider the worst presumably. This is almost unbelievable especially as Luke is particularly concerned with outcasts and the lowest of society. Jesus' response is to put a child before the disciples, and say the 'least among you is the greatest'.

However, this story is not really about the child - the child stands for a humble and child-like disciple. The badge of greatness in God's Kingdom is to be humility, after all Jesus himself gave up everything to live as a humble carpenter and to die for us. So we too must copy the example of our Lord.

Wednesday 3rd June, follow up thoughts

Lord Jesus,
as you taught Your disciples
who was the greatest in
Your kingdom,
help us to grow in humility
not seeking to put ourselves forward
but content to do the work You
set before us this day.
Amen.