There seems to be a contemporary obsession with who is greatest. The sports pages are filled with speculation about the GOAT – the greatest of all time. Serena in tennis, Michael Phelps in swimming, Michael Jordan in basketball (at least if you’re from Chicago.) Magazines make lists: 100 greatest movies or songs or guitarists. We rate our presidents on who is the greatest. We should not be surprised that the search for greatness is a human perennial and can even be found in the Bible. Among those born of women there has been none greater than John the Baptist. Jesus does not claim the title of the greatest. In fact he says he is “meek and humble of heart.” That suggests that perhaps our criteria for greatness is askew. After commending the greatness of John Jesus adds “yet the least in the Kingdom of heaven is greater than he.” Those are “in the kingdom of heaven” who are not pushing themselves and their agenda but are instead seeking always to do the will of God. A mother caring for her child, a husband supporting his family, a neighbor reaching out to someone in need, an addict reaching recovery, a sick person finding peace, a teen resisting temptation — these are the GOATs in the kingdom.
