Trinity 17
James 3:13 – 4:3, 7, 8a – Two kinds of Wisdom
Mark 9: 33 – 37 – Who is the Greatest?
Who’s the GOAT?
That question is guaranteed to provoke endless argument, the claimed candidate being dependent on personal allegiances, age, culture and experience. The GOAT we’re talking about here though isn’t Billy, as pictured here.
It stands for Greatest Of All Time.
Although probably based on questions of sport, usually football (George Best or Colin Bell?) (No contest, IMHO), the appellation ‘GOAT’ is now applied to people in all walks of life. For me, I guess the top candidates in various other disciplines are:
Politicians: Abraham Lincoln or Nelson Mandela?
Cricketers: Don Bradman or Gary Sobers?
Guitarists: Clapton or Hendrix?
Artists: Picasso or Van Gogh?
Racing Drivers: Fangio or Senna?
Authors: Dickens, Lawrence or Joyce?
Disciples: James, John or Peter?
In truth, you’d have to question whether they were really the greatest or simply just the best known. The answer according to Jesus is actually many who we’ve never heard of, those who were happy to be servants of the smallest child despite the cost to themselves. That’s the challenge.
Whereupon, perhaps the GOAT could even be (should be?) You.
Better learn how to Bleat.
Previous Posts
Praying Together 15th December 2024
Be careful what you say in a restaurant – someone might overhear…
Praying Together 8th December 2024
You’ve a chance to start again, but it begins with you admitting that you need to repent, and then be ready – because your life is going to change forever.
An Advent Meditation
As He is always present with Mary, so He is present with me, and with you, too.
Praying Together 24th November 2024
Look! He is coming with the clouds; every eye will see him, even those who pierced him; and on his account all the tribes of the earth will wail. So it is to be. Amen.
Praying Together 17th November 2024
However we understand it, it is the Spirit-led recognition of His presence at the heart of our Eucharist that changes our lives and sets us free to be His Body on earth.
Praying Together 10th November 2024
Nowadays, my act of Remembrance is in working for a future for children, grandchildren and generations of every race and nation to come
Praying Together 3rd November 2024
This week, there is so much needing our prayer that words are not enough. We need to take our issues of concern to a much deeper level.
Praying Together 20th October 2024
God of all peace, have mercy on our broken and divided world, and on your people who cry out to you for healing, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Praying Together 13th October 2024
If the love of our worldly possessions prevents us from loving Him first, we’re stuck on earth.
The rich young man has a decision to make. So do we.
Praying together 29th September 2024
His truth is simple – it is Love. Love of God and Love of neighbour.
Praying Together 15th September 2024
Jesus makes it very clear that following him appears costly – if you measure it in human terms.
Praying Together 8th September 2024
And this is the time of the year when many young people are stepping out into a new chapter of life – first day at school or college, perhaps a first job – and as parents, we try to disguise our feelings of concern as we realise that we have to trust them to the Lord and let go.