The Greatness the World Never Sees

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Today’s Gospel begins with a question: “Who is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?” The disciples were not asking out of simple curiosity. They were still imagining God’s Kingdom in earthly terms. They thought greatness meant power, influence, recognition, or being closest to Jesus in status. Instead of answering with a lecture, Jesus called a little child into their midst.

In the first-century Jewish world, children had no social status, no influence, and no rights. They depended entirely on others. By placing a child at the center, Jesus completely turned the disciples’ understanding upside down. Greatness in His Kingdom is not about climbing higher but about becoming smaller, more trusting, and more dependent on God. This Gospel is especially fitting as we celebrate the Memorial of St. Clare of Assisi, who understood that the way to greatness was not through wealth or prestige but through joyful poverty, humility, and complete surrender to Christ.

One of the greatest dangers in our spiritual lives is believing that we have to impress God. We spend so much of our lives trying to prove ourselves – to our families, our friends, our coworkers, and sometimes even to ourselves. We think if we achieve enough, earn enough, or become successful enough, then our lives will finally matter. But Jesus says something different. He tells us that the people closest to the Father’s heart are those who know they need Him. A child does not pretend to have everything together. A child simply reaches out a hand and trusts. Maybe that’s why humility is so difficult. It requires us to admit that we cannot save ourselves. We need grace. We need mercy. We need Jesus every single day.

Then Jesus speaks about the shepherd who leaves the ninety-nine sheep to search for the one that has wandered away. At first, it almost seems unreasonable. Why leave the many for the one? Yet this is exactly how God’s love works. Heaven does not calculate worth the way the world does. To Jesus, no one is invisible. No one is too far gone. No one is just another face in the crowd. Every person matters because every person is loved.

St. Clare chose a hidden life behind the walls of the convent, but her hidden life became a light for the whole Church. She reminds us that holiness is often quiet. The saints were not trying to become famous; they were simply trying to be faithful.

Perhaps the question Jesus asks us today is not, “How great are you?” but rather, “Who are you becoming?” Are we becoming more humble, more trusting, more willing to let God carry us? The world encourages us to build our own kingdom, but Jesus invites us to become like children who know that everything they have comes from the Father. Real greatness is found not in being noticed, but in belonging completely to Christ.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, You call me to become like a child – humble, trusting, and completely dependent on You. Free me from the need to be admired, to compete, or to prove my worth. Help me remember that my value comes not from what I accomplish but from being Your beloved child. Amen.

– Homily by Rev Fr Patrick Agbeko