Greatness in humility

Matthew 18 : 1- 5, 10, 12 - 14

...who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?...

As I watch the Olympics I hear from time to time the refrain, "the peak of human performance". Yes, the athletes are all doing their best to break records and indeed to soar to the heights of human physical capacity. There is a drive within humans to extend ourselves and achieve the best we can in life. This is no doubt praiseworthy but unless we are careful, it also sends subtle messages about 'who' are really great. The 'world' says that those who are fortunate to achieve much are great. Indeed those who strive and succeed are to be praised for their efforts. But the standards of the "kingdom of heaven" are different. The "kingdom" as Jesus was trying to teach his disciples is a different entity altogether. The rules in fact overturn those that humans usually adopt. The disciples are asking about the "kingdom" but attempting to use earthly measures.

We are grown up and rightly want to leave childish ways behind. But being 'child-like' - living in humble dependence upon God our Father is what makes us great in the "kingdom". We know our place in the order of things. Even if we achieve much, it points us back to God who created the human body, human faculties. Everything is referred back to our Creator - who is at the hub of life itself. Personal effort is required to achieve what we are capable of, but at the source and goal of every success, is our Father, upon whom we humbly depend.