Greatness. Do you recognize it when you see it, when you’re looking at it?
So often we recognize greatness with sport. Michael Jordan driving to the hoop, leaping and moving his arms in a way, around his defenders to hit the shot.
Or my personal favorite baseball player, Ken Griffey Jr., making an amazing catch leaping up against the outfield wall, arm extended over the wall and catching a would-be home run (which I did witness).
Or with the Olympics coming up this summer, the greatest athletes from around the world competing on the biggest stage. Greatness bringing people together – forgetting their differences, their biases, all for one purpose.
It’s just not sport. I saw this in Philadelphia five years ago (wow, time sure does fly by…) when we saw Pope Francis with a million other faithful, filled with love and community.
All of us – coming together to witness, and feel, something that is bigger, that is special, that is… well great!
But is this true greatness? Well, to an extent yes, these are amazing people using their God-given gifts and abilities and talents. But that is the nut of this – God-given. Do we, do they, do you, look at it that way?
Do you see God when you look at others using their gifts and abilities, not only in sports and in our leaders – but the people you encounter? Do you see God in those that you work with? Do you see Jesus in those that you live with?
Do you truly recognize His greatness in those people and things you encounter every day?
Do you recognize that there is something greater here? Or do you continue to look for signs in all the wrong places?
Nineveh. Jonah. Jesus.
You. Me.
Roughly 2,500 years of history. Countless changes in society and technology. Yet people are the same.
Sinners. People of God. The unfaithful, and the faithful. Some who recognize Him and the greatness before them – the people of Nineveh. Jesus’ disciples. The faithful today.
Others, who, well – don’t. Those who are looking for a sign, for something greater – elsewhere, in something of their creation. But so often, greatness is there before them. In the here and now. As Jesus said,
There is Something greater here. In our faith.
There is Something greater here. In this season of Lent.
There is Something greater here. In the people around us.
There is Something greater here. In forgiveness and reconciliation.
There is Something greater here. In our heart and soul.
There is Something greater here. In the Eucharist.
There is Something greater here.
Do you see Him?
