One line in today’s gospel stands out to me: “which of them was the greatest.” Growing up, I often compared myself to my siblings and peers. Many of us do. We think about our athletic abilities, popularity, or GPA. As adults, we might measure our greatness by the size of our house, the prestige of our job, or compare our happiness to others on social media. It’s human nature and quintessentially American to want to be the best.

And while competition can be good, today’s gospel reminds us that not everything is competition. When my grandmother was alive, I frequently half-joked that I was her favorite. She would smile and play along; she had a knack for making each grandchild feel special. There was no competition for grandma’s time or attention.

Similarly, Jesus reminds us that when we look around and judge who is “the greatest” Christian (or who isn’t), we miss the point. Jesus invited all kinds of people—tax collectors, fishermen, even anarchists—to be his disciples. Today that would be like inviting corporate executives, Black Lives Matter protesters, and MAGA supporters.

We are all imperfect, but still, he chooses us all.

We often compare God’s love for us to that of a parent, but the child in this gospel makes me think of my young kids. When I get home, they come running for a hug. They have no idea how much money I make or how impressive my job is, but their faces light up with pure joy just because I showed up. That’s the message I come away with from today’s gospel.

God doesn’t measure our greatness by comparing us to others but is overjoyed when we show up and accept Jesus’ invitation. May we have the humility to see others and the grace to see ourselves through that same lens.