25th Sunday in Ordinary Time 2024

 Have you ever heard the term “G.O.A.T.”? It stands for “Greatest of All Time.” 

People usually use it to describe athletes—Tom Brady in football, Serena Williams in tennis, or Michael Jordan in basketball. 

But today, we’re not here to talk about football or tennis or basketball. Instead, I want us to think about this: What does it mean to be the greatest of all time in God’s eyes? 

In the Kingdom of God, who is the G.O.A.T.? 

Spoiler alert: it’s not who you might expect!

In today’s Gospel, we find the disciples having their own debate about who among them was the greatest. It’s almost like they were caught up in their own version of the G.O.A.T. conversation, asking: “Who is the most important? Who has the most status? Who will have the most influence in the Kingdom of God?”

They had just heard Jesus predict His suffering and death, yet they were thinking about rank and status! It’s almost like us hearing about some great sacrifice someone made, but then immediately turning the conversation back to our own achievements or concerns. 

We get so caught up in our worldly ideas of greatness—who has the most money, the most power, or the most fame—that we forget the bigger picture.

So what does Jesus do? He redefines greatness for them, and for us. He tells them, “If anyone wishes to be first, he shall be the last of all and the servant of all.” 

That’s the exact opposite of what we often hear in the world. We are taught that greatness comes from being at the top—winning, being the best, getting ahead of others.

But Jesus flips that on its head. He says that true greatness comes from humility, from being a servant, from putting others before yourself. 

It’s not about being the G.O.A.T. in the way the world understands it. It’s about being the last, not the first. It’s about serving others, not being served.

And here’s where we get to the punchline I mentioned earlier: in the world, the G.O.A.T. might be a great athlete or a powerful person. 

But in the Kingdom of God, the G.O.A.T. is… a Lamb. And that Lamb is Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God.

Think about that for a second: The greatest of all time, the one who stands above everyone else in the Kingdom of God, is not someone who sought power or fame. 

He is the Lamb who gave His life for us. Jesus, in His humility, His sacrifice, and His love, shows us what true greatness looks like.

So what does that mean for us? It means that if we want to be great in the eyes of God, we need to follow the example of the Lamb. 

We need to serve others, care for those in need, and live humbly. Greatness isn’t about climbing to the top—it’s about bending down to help those around us.

In our families, in our workplaces, and in our communities, how can we be servants? How can we put others before ourselves? How can we, like Jesus, be the last of all and the servant of all?

Jesus gives us the final clue in today’s Gospel: “Whoever receives one child such as this in my name, receives me.” 

Children in Jesus’ time were seen as the least important members of society. Yet Jesus elevates them, saying that how we treat the least among us is how we treat Him. 

This is the greatness He calls us to: the greatness of service, humility, and love.

So, let’s remember: in the Kingdom of God, the true G.O.A.T. is the Lamb—Jesus. Let’s follow His example and strive to be great, not by the world’s standards, but by God’s. Amen.