Starting Little!

Tuesday, August 11, 2026

Ez 2: 8-3:4; Mt 18: 1-5, 10, 12-14

Today’s Gospel highlights that greatness in God’s Kingdom begins with littleness. 

When the disciples asked Jesus, ‘Who is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven?’ they expected Jesus to explain greatness in terms of position or status. But Jesus turned the idea of greatness upside down by placing a child as a symbol of greatness.

In his answer, Jesus clarifies that ‘becoming little first’ is what signifies greatness in God’s Kingdom. For this reason, he makes the sentence conditional by saying, ‘Unless you change and become like children…’ In Jesus’ view, greatness in the Kingdom begins with humility. 

It is Jesus’ sentence that leads us to the idea of ‘starting little.’ For Jesus, little beginnings are indeed places or occasions where God intervenes to transform them into greatness. Hence, ‘starting little’ is not about fading into irrelevance but doing little things with great love. 

What exactly is Jesus’ idea of greatness? Certainly, it is not about being above others. Nor is it about occupying the highest place possible. Instead, it is about becoming servants in love. And a truly great person volunteers to serve in total anonymity, without recognition. 

Jesus expects his disciples to possess the courage to start little so that we may find fulfillment in loving and selfless service. 

Let us pray for grace to start little in order to live out Jesus’ spirituality of greatness. 

Fr. Dhinakaran Savariyar