Monday September 30th: No need to compete!

St Jerome, Priest, Doctor

“An argument started between them about which of them was the greatest.”

Luke 9:46-50

Consider closely the times in which we live. We do not argue about who is the greatest. We set out to prove it! Look at the arms race, the acquisition and abuse of power, our accumulation of wealth, manipulation of situations, assuming superior intellect, casting aspersions, belittling others, exclusion, and the list can go on ad infinitum.
Self aggrandizement seems to be the name of the game, and sometimes we are oblivious of the pull towards this trend. It is so easy to get caught up in the ‘ego-drama.’ In today’s Gospel Jesus addresses this tendency in his disciples by presenting a little child, telling them and us (by extension) that the path to greatness is being the least: humble, simple, trusting, content, child-like.
We pray that we may not be consumed by the desire to prove our greatness. Remind us, Lord Jesus, that we were all created equal in the image and likeness of God, and are equally loved and cared for by Him, the least as well as the greatest.
No need to compete!