Being Great isn't Easy

Who is or was the greatest athlete? And if you were to think long and deep, who was the greatest singer of all time? Or actor who danced on stage? So many categories, so many variables to consider, and so many differences of opinions. Yet, we debate and will always debate those differences and they become the topic of many conversations.

So, it would make sense to ask, who is the greatest in heaven? The apostles, no different than us did just that. They asked Jesus, “who is the greatest in heaven”? And Jesus had an interesting answer. He said, more or less, don’t worry about who is the greatest in heaven, worry about just getting to heaven.

He then told them how. He said that we have to become like little children, because children depend on their parents for all their needs, and God wants us to depend on God, who is our Father. Depend on him for all our needs, for everything. 

And, when life gets rough, when we find ourselves in a jam or when we need that shoulder to console us, it is God, our Father who will do everything to relieve our pain, to admonish, and bring us back, just like a father does to help their children. It’s called love.

When we love, we hope for love in return. And God who loves us, hopes too for our love in return. But God won’t force us to love him, and he won’t force us to come back to Him. No, that’s our free will.

And we can love him in return by staying focused on Him. When we have done everything we can do, and keep your eyes on God, that’s when He steps in as a loving Father and will do what we can’t do.

Who is the greatest? First, let’s pick a category. Who is the greatest in the category of love, for that’s what really matters? And how do we measure love?  “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud”. These words of St. Paul are words, that when followed and practiced, help us to keep our eyes focused on heaven, not to be the greatest, but just to reach those gates and cross over the finish line. They help us to love God in return. Jesus said, “there is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for a friend”. Being great isn’t easy.