Gospel (Lk 9,46-50) - At that time, a discussion arose among the disciples as to which of them was greater. Then Jesus, knowing the thoughts of their hearts, took a child, placed him near him and said to them: «Whoever welcomes this child in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. For he who is the least among you all is great." John spoke up, saying: "Master, we saw someone casting out demons in your name and we prevented him, because he does not follow you with us." But Jesus answered him: "Do not prevent him, because whoever is not against you is for you."

The commentary on the Gospel by Monsignor Vincenzo Paglia

The evangelist Luke reveals, in this evangelical passage, what the true concerns of the disciples were: which of them should have first place. We could say that the disciples - them certainly, but also us - were fully children of this world and of the competitive mentality that regulates relationships between people. It is a custom that firmly accompanies all generations. We could say that it is the legacy of the first sin: Adam and Eve's disobedience to God. Disobedience to God continues to give rise to division between people and the consequent mutual accusation. Jesus came to overturn disobedience - "becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross", writes the apostle Paul (Phil 2:8) - and to establish relationships of brotherhood and service, not of competition, between men. And so that the disciples could understand his thoughts well, Jesus took a child and placed him next to him, as if to identify him with him, and said to them: «Whoever welcomes this child in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. For whoever is the least among you all is great." In the kingdom of heaven, and therefore also in the community of Jesus' disciples, those who make themselves small are great, that is, children of the Gospel, those who recognize their own weakness and entrust themselves entirely to the Lord. He who lives with the trust of a child, who feels like a child of God, knows how to listen to his Word, has the very thought of God and recognizes the things that come from God.