Homily for the Memorial of St. Jerome

Jesus often used actions as well as words to teach a life lesson. His disciples were embroiled in a debate about a very self-centered question: Which of them was the greatest? Their concept of greatness might have been based on talent, family background, or even their closeness to Jesus. Jesus, however, needed to enlighten them about what true greatness really is in the eyes of God, a stark contrast to their worldly view.

The lesson began with Jesus placing a child beside Himself, a powerful action that spoke volumes before He uttered a word. In that time and place, a child was not a symbol of greatness but weakness and vulnerability. Jesus chose to identify with the little ones, often overlooked by the world. In their misconception, the disciples were far from the truth in their desire for greatness, a reminder of our own need for guidance and humility in our spiritual journey.

The point is that God's values are not the same as those of the world. Like the disciples' rivalries, we, too, can sometimes be driven by the ego in our pursuits. We must remember and align our ambitions with God's values, as demonstrated by His Son, Jesus.