Lk 9:46-50
46An argument arose among the disciples about which of them was the greatest. 47Jesus realized the intention of their hearts and took a child and placed it by his side 48and 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.”
49Then 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.” 50Jesus said to him, “Do not prevent him, for whoever is not against you is for you.”
The Greatest: Jesus lived in an agonistic society where people struggled to achieve honor, often at the expense of others. They compared themselves with others and asked who is greater or the greatest.
In the Gospel, the disciples argue who among them is the greatest. In response, Jesus puts before them a child. The Jewish child is chosen as the fitting symbol of the honored citizen of the kingdom. In that patriarchal society, a child has neither personality nor legal rights. In fact a child is virtually a slave until it reaches the age when it assumes legal rights, including the right of inheritance. Classical Western Graeco-Roman romanticism ascribes to the child an image of innocence, simplicity, and humility. The original metaphor of Jesus in its Middle Eastern Jewish setting does not suggest any of these. As a nobody and the least in this world, the child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Jesus makes it clear that the values of the kingdom are quite contrary to those of the world.