An argument arose among the disciples
about which of them was the greatest.
Jesus realized the intention of their hearts and took a child
and placed it by his side and said to them,
Whoever receives this child in my name receives me,
and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.
For the one who is least among all of you
is the one who is the greatest.
Then John said in reply,
Master, we saw someone casting out demons in your name
and we tried to prevent him
because he does not follow in our company.
Jesus said to him,
Do not prevent him, for whoever is not against you is for you.
— Luke 9:46-50
The peace of the Lord be with you. Our scriptures today not only include this passage but the one that describes the difficulties that Job experienced. Many have said that Job is a foreshadowing of the person of Jesus. Both Jesus and Job possess this incredible level of trust in God the Father. Job recognizes that what he has has been given can be taken away, but God never does anything to be malicious. Jesus becomes a servant, and never complains about the task that he has been given.
Today Jesus reminds us that we too must recognize our dependence on God and trust that His actions are only for the best. Jesus also points out that there may be people doing God’s work that we don’t know or recognize but the authority to heal and to do that work comes directly from God himself. Our job then is really not to plot, plan, or make designs; it’s to love both God and neighbor. That is at the heart of our life’s work.
Heavenly Father please give me the heart like Jesus today that I may be at peace with being a servant to others as he was a servant to us. In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.