Monday in the 26th Week of Ordinary Time, September 28, 2026

Luke 9, 46-50

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.”

The first sentence of the lectionary translation of this passage from the Gospel of St. Luke has this: “An argument arose among the disciples about which of them was the greatest.” The modern English definition of “argument” implies heated, personal debate. But the Greek text has this: “And there entered into them a thought (or “reasoning”, “calculation”) which of them should be greater. The Apostles were not breaking into bitter factions among themselves as to the ranking of each. In fact, a careful reading of the Greek text of the next verse reveals something else: “But Jesus seeing the thoughts of their hearts, etc.” Luke does not say that the Lord Jesus came upon the Apostles bickering at each other. He sees what is in their hearts and addresses it before it comes to the surface. He does this out of love for them to prevent dissension, especially dissension based on a false understanding of what it meant to him to be “great”.  The Greek text goes on to say, “Taking hold of a child, he caused it to stand in his presence.”  The Greek word translated here as “child” signifies one between the ages of three or four and ten. Jesus “takes hold” of such a child who is perhaps playing nearby in the house and sets it before him, facing the Apostles. He then addressed them: “If anyone should receive (“accept”, “welcome”) should welcome this child for the sake of my name, he receives (“accepts”, “welcomes”) me, and the one who receives me receives the one who sent me forth.” 

Now, a consideration of the Lord’s words here raises the question of whether he actually settled the questions that had arisen in the minds of his Apostles. But the Lord Jesus often worked in this way, addressing the deeper question behind the evident issue. He does this, for instance, when St. Jude asks Jesus, at the Last Supper, why he does not reveal himself to the whole world. The Lord seems to speak in a round about way: “If any one love me, he will keep my word. And my Father will love him and we will come to him and will make our abode with him” (John 14, 23). In this way Jesus told him that he would indeed reveal himself to the world — through the Apostles. But now Jesus speaks of a toddler representing him, even bearing him in his own little person so that anyone who received him for the sake of the Lord’s name welcomed not only Jesus but also the Father who had sent him forth. Jesus does not settle (or unsettle) the Apostles’ thoughts by saying, Peter is the greatest, John is the greatest. Rather, he sets up a model for them to follow: the one who bears Christ in his heart  And does his will is the model to measure oneself against. 

And the Greek word translated here as “receive”, “welcome”, or “accept” may be understood in the literal sense, but is better understood in the sense of “to believe”. That is, we “receive” Christ through faith. And when we “receive” him through faith, we strive to carry out his holy will. It is not enough to receive Christ or his minister into our physical presence. That may only be done through courtesy. But to believe in him, to seek to do his will, that is true welcoming, true acceptance, true reception.