Jesus is fully human and fully divine. No one knows the prerequisites for what it takes to be part of his Kingdom than Him. In today’s Gospel, Jesus is setting some high standards for us by taking John the Baptist as an example. John was well known among the people for being a righteous man who lived a spiritual life while chosen to be the one who prepares the way for Jesus. Yet Jesus says the least person in the kingdom of heaven is greater than John the Baptist, logically suggesting that he is not part of the kingdom. In the passage Jesus is not making a point about John so much as he is making a point about the significance of being included in the Kingdom of heaven. It is not a matter of what John the Baptist lacked or that made the other disciples great. Greatness or smallness of our lives from an earthly view has no bearing on our status in the Kingdom. All these show us that any earthly rankings in honour are utterly irrelevant when it comes to our membership in the Kingdom.

Prayer: Abba Father, continue to guide us to be part of your plan for each of us so we can inherit the Kingdom as your sons and daughters. Amen.