The Greatest Among You Is The Least
- Deacon Dan DeLuca
- Sep 26, 2022
- 5 min read
The greatest among you is the least. This concept is at the heart of what it means to be a Christian disciple. This reversal of societal norms and expectations, the person who has little is actually the greatest and the one who has much is the least, is challenging to wrap our American heads around. Society idolizes material wealth and power. Yet Jesus tells us if we want to receive him then we have to receive the least, and not just receive them but receive them with the heart of a servant, the heart of the one who served so deeply that he willingly died for us. This reading offers us an opportunity to pause and reflect on just how well we are receiving the least.
True Greatness & Another Exorcist
And an argument arose among them as to which of them was the greatest. But when Jesus perceived the thought of their hearts, he took a child and put him by his side, and said to them, “Whoever receives this child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me receives him who sent me; for he who is least among you all is the one who is great.” John answered, “Master, we saw a man casting out demons in your name, and we forbade him, because he does not follow with us.” But Jesus said to him, “Do not forbid him; for he that is not against you is for you.” Luke 9:46-50
Scriptural Analysis
Today’s Gospel passage focuses on two traits that one expects to find in a Christian disciples: humility and openness. The reading opens with the disciples arguing amongst themselves which one of them is the greatest. Some biblical scholars translate this passage, “Instead they entered into a discussion.” This is perhaps a better word choice for this phrase. In the original Greek, Luke is trying to draw a clear distinction here between the disciples unwillingness to enter into a discussion with Jesus regarding his second passion prediction and eagerness to enter into this discussion. They made a clear choice to have this discussion.
The disciples persist in their ignorance: their lack of understanding of how Jesus is challenging and changing the societal norms: a change so beautifully expressed in the Magnificat and the Beatitudes. The disciples are still very much caught up in the power structure of the world. They fail to understand that what Jesus is teaching upends those structures: that the one who humbles himself in service of others is actually the greatest.
To illustrate this Jesus places a child in their midst: one of the weakest members of society is now at the side of Jesus. St Cyril of Alexandria has a beautiful reflection on this choice of a child:
He made the child a representation of an innocent and humble life. The mind of a child is empty of fraud, and his hear is sincere. His thoughts are simple. He does not covet rank and does not know what is meant by one man being higher than another is.
This child represents what we are to be: humble, sincere, not seeking rank or status. Jesus tells the disciples that the one who receives this least member of society receives Jesus and the Father that sent him.
Another aspect of Christian discipleship is openness. We are called to spread the Good News to the ends of the earth: not keep it for ourselves. This is illustrated in the second part of today’s gospel. Recall from Luke 9:40 that it was just reported that the disciples were unable to drive out a demon. However, in this passage the disciples report to Jesus that someone has been successfully driving out daemons in his name: someone who did not keep company with the disciples. Someone who was an outsider.
John thought this was unacceptable and tried to stop this individual. This harkens back to an Old Testament Incident. Recall how some men were prophesying during Moseses time and Joshua tried to stop them. Moses rebuked Joshua saying, “Are you jealous for my sake? Would that all the Lord’s people were prophets, and that the Lord would put his spirit on them!” (Numbers 11:29) Jesus instructs John not to prevent him and establishes the idea of those not against you being for you. This will become further developed in Acts when, at Pentecost, the Holy Spirit descends upon Gentiles showing how the kingdom is for all.
Daily Application
Letting go of worldly power structures is difficult. We are constantly bombarded by image of people who have abundant material wealth, impressive worldly fame, and great worldly power. The world tells us that achieving these things is the dream: a sign of a life well lived and put to good use. Now, none of these things in and of themselves is necessarily sinful. Consider Saint John Paul II or Saint Teresa of Calcutta. They both had worldly fame. However, neither one of them sought that: they did not desire to be famous. Rather, they lived their life in humble service of the Gospel and of their fellow men. This is so opposite of the world, that the world took note and they became famous.
However, living a life of service alone is not enough. The service one does has to be done for the right reason. It is easy, even in service, to fall into worldly motives. I can with the prestige of the world be serving. I have a job to do: this is my place in society or the Church. I become a person of prominence when my service is noticed and wins esteem. When we fall into these worldly motives our service no longer packs the spiritual punch that it does when we are doing it solely out of love of God and neighbor. It is important for us to always challenge our motives for serving to ensure we have properly discerned God’s will and we are aligned.
We often think service needs to be a big involved effort: volunteering at the homeless shelter or the local food pantry. While those are important and something we most definitely should try and do, our true life of service first and foremost involves pouring ourselves out fully for those Christ has placed in our lives. When you are fully present and completely giving of yourself for your spouse, your children, your family, your friends, your coworkers, your church community, you are living a life of service. We all need to start there, with those who have already been placed in our lives.
From there, pray and ask God show you who else you are supposed to serve and how. Often times all he is asking us to do is acknowledge those around us. To take a few minutes to hear them and make them know that they are seen. These small daily acts of service and sacrifice are what a life of service is all about. St. Teresa didn’t set out with ambitious plans nor was she under the delusion that she would save everyone. Rather, she focussed on those people who were there waiting to be served. One person at a time, she touched them and made a difference. We too are capable of this exact same kind of service: of pouring ourselves out completely as she did, of becoming the least.
Comments