Jesus is calling us to flip our usual attitudes toward greatness and honor and fame completely upside down. Our normal perspective is to look at life from the top down, giving our greatest attention to the people who have competed with one another and come out on top. We do this with politicians, actors, singers, as well as with hollywood personalities and business leaders. We are drawn to their fame and are impressed by their talents and accomplishments.
But Jesus is saying, “No — change your perspective.” Instead, he says, look at life from the bottom up and give your greatest attention to the people who have no fame. Focus on children, on the working poor, on the homeless. “Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me,” says Jesus, “and whoever welcomes me” … welcomes God.
