A mother was preparing pancakes for her two sons, ages 5 and 3, respectively, as the boys argued over who would get the first pancake. Their mother saw an opportunity to teach them a moral lesson. "If Jesus were sitting here," she said, "He would say, 'Let my brother take the first pancake; I can wait.'” Kevin, the older one, looked at his younger brother and said, “Ryan, you be Jesus today!”
The story serves as a powerful example of the human tendency to prioritize our own interests over the interests of others. It is a reflection of our innate self-centeredness and the constant competition and rivalry that permeates our world. Mohammad Ali, the former world heavyweight boxing champion, once claimed, “I am the greatest.” In the 1960s, the sensational British singing group, the Beatles, allegedly claimed they were more popular than Jesus Christ.
Many people wish to become great – a great politician, a great doctor, a great lawyer, a great musician, a great athlete, or a great movie star. Often, we purposely do things to be noticed. We thirst for attention, and we want others to know who we are. We want to be seen as great in whatever we do.
The desire to be “great” in one’s own way is very human indeed. Even the apostles, who had been following Jesus for over two years, struggled with this desire as they vied for prominence and greatness among themselves. In response, Jesus teaches them that true greatness lies not in seeking power, status, or wealth, but in becoming a servant to others. He tells us that the greatest in the Kingdom of God are those who are humble and act as servants of all.
To illustrate this point, Jesus makes a dramatic gesture, embracing a child and pointing to them as a symbol of purity, humility, trust, obedience, helplessness, dependence, and innocence - all qualities that embody the essence of God's Kingdom.
In the ancient world, a child had no legal status, no rights, positions, or privileges of their own. Children were supposed to serve their parents, just like the household staff and domestic servants. By embracing a child, Jesus was not only honoring their inherent value as human beings, but also elevating them to a position of importance and significance.
The significance of this gesture lies in the fact that Jesus is challenging us to adopt the same qualities that a child embodies. He calls us to be humble, obedient, and dependent on God, putting ourselves at the service of others. This is not a call to abase ourselves or allow others to humiliate or step on us, but, rather, to recognize that true greatness lies in serving others, just as Jesus Himself came not to be served but to serve.
We must never forget that humility is the weakness of God. Our humble attitude is what takes the attention of God and our fellow men. Not just doing great things makes you great. Being humble is great enough.
Father Boby John, C.S.C., ordained a priest in the Congregation of Holy Cross in 2008, worked as a pastor and as an educator with tribal populations in Northeast India for thirteen years. Originally from Kerala, India, Father Boby grew up with three siblings. He is a dedicated and detailed educationist with experience in educational leadership. He is currently working as an executive assistant at the world headquarters of Holy Cross Family Ministries, North Easton, Massachusetts.
