When I read the gospels, sometimes it just seems like the apostles are not paying attention to what Jesus is teaching. Today for example they are arguing over which one of them is the greatest and will be chosen by Jesus to sit at his right hand, which is the seat of honor. So Jesus takes a little child, who in Jewish society is the lowest in term of stature, and places that child at his right hand in the seat of honor. Can you imagine how the apostles must have felt.
But isn’t it also true with us. We like places of honor and to be recognized for all the great work we do. That recognition feeds our ego. Yet Jesus is talking about humility. He tells us that the greatest must be the least and the servant of all.
Think about how Jesus entered our humanity. He was not born in a palace or even an upscale neighborhood. He was born humbly in a stable. As a newborn his father had to escape to a foreign country to keep him from being killed. His early childhood was that of an immigrant. God show us humility as he brings about our salvation when he could have called down a legion of angels to defend his son.
As we continue our personal journey of faith, we need to heed the words of the prophet Micah that I paraphrase. “Walk humbly with your God in everything you do, these are the things That I’m ask of you !”
DeColores, Deacon Doug