More of the story: Greatness

Now those who were scattered went from place to place, proclaiming the word. Philip went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed the Messiah to them. The crowds with one accord listened eagerly to what was said by Philip, hearing and seeing the signs that he did, for unclean spirits, crying with loud shrieks, came out of many who were possessed; and many others who were paralyzed or lame were cured. So there was great joy in that city.
Now a certain man named Simon had previously practiced magic in the city and amazed the people of Samaria, saying that he was someone great. All of them, from the least to the greatest, listened to him eagerly, saying, “This man is the power of God that is called Great.” And they listened eagerly to him because for a long time he had amazed them with his magic. But when they believed Philip, who was proclaiming the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. Even Simon himself believed. After being baptized, he stayed constantly with Philip and was amazed when he saw the signs and great miracles that took place. ~ Acts 8:4-13

A great man is always willing to be little. ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

We hear a lot these days about what it means to be great.
About WHO is great.
About who ISN'T great.
Simon sure thought a lot about himself, and so did the crowds that followed him. He called himself great, and the people following him said that he himself was the power of God.
Imagine that. Calling yourself great by doing slight of hand to amaze the masses.
And yet here was Phillip. Healing people. Proclaiming the Good News to people.
Good news that wasn't about him, but about the one who sent him.
The real greatness - God's greatness - eventually even got through to Simon. Maybe he finally realized he shouldn't believe in his own press.
That it wasn't all about him.
Maybe he saw that slight of hand and tricks weren't the power of God.
That the power of God - the greatness of God - came in small packages. Ones that offered wholeness and healing.
The story of God kept spreading and healing. Kept amazing even the most unexpected of people - the great...and the small.

Prayer: You alone are great, O God. Help me check my own ego at the door, and to not be taken in by the egos of others. Amen.


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