Mark 9:33-37: a reflection

33He came to Capernaum, and when he was in the house he asked them, “What were you arguing among yourselves on the way?” 34But they were silent, for they had disputed with one another on the way about who was the greatest. 35He sat down and called the twelve; and he said to them, “If any man wants to be first, he shall be last of all, and servant of all.” 36He took a little child and set him in the middle of them. Taking him in his arms, he said to them, 37“Whoever receives one such little child in my name receives me; and whoever receives me, doesn’t receive me, but him who sent me.”

On the road, the disciples had been arguing about which of them was the greatest; and when Jesus asks what they were discussing, they are ashamed to say. So Jesus sits them down and turns their whole notion of greatness upside down: If anyone wants to be first, he must be last of all and servant of all. And he takes a little child, sets him among them, and says that whoever welcomes such a child in his name welcomes him. Greatness, in God's kingdom, is not what they imagined.

Notice how Jesus redefines greatness. The disciples measured it as the world does, by being above others, ahead of others, more important than others. But Jesus turns it around: to be first is to be last of all and servant of all. In God's kingdom, greatness is not found in being served, in status, in being above others, but in humble service, in taking the lowest place and serving all. And it is shown in welcoming the lowly, like a child, whom the world overlooks.

That challenges the way we naturally think about greatness and importance. We, like the disciples, are prone to want to be first, to rise above others, to be thought important. But Jesus says the way to be great in God's kingdom is down, not up: to serve, to take the lowest place, to welcome the overlooked. Do not measure greatness as the world does, by status and being above others. Seek instead the greatness Jesus commends: to be the servant of all, to take the humble place, to welcome the lowly. The truly great in God's kingdom are not those who are served, but those who serve; give yourself to humble service, and to welcoming the overlooked, for that is the greatness God honors.

Lord Jesus, when your disciples argued about who was greatest, you turned their notion of greatness upside down: if anyone wants to be first, he must be last of all and servant of all; and you welcomed a little child, saying that whoever welcomes such a child in your name welcomes you. Challenge the way I naturally think about greatness and importance. I, like the disciples, am prone to want to be first, to rise above others, to be thought important. But you say the way to be great in your kingdom is down, not up: to serve, to take the lowest place, to welcome the overlooked. Keep me from measuring greatness as the world does, by status and being above others. Help me seek instead the greatness you commend: to be the servant of all, to take the humble place, to welcome the lowly. The truly great in your kingdom are not those who are served, but those who serve; help me give myself to humble service, and to welcoming the overlooked, for that is the greatness you honor. Make me a servant, Lord.