30 January 2023
Monday of the Fourth Week in Ordinary Time
“Blessed are the meek for they will inherit the earth.”
In the first reading, we see an fascinating image of meekness: the great heroes of the Old Testament. David, Samson, Gideon, Samuel, all embody a rugged strength and warrior spirit that led them to do great things for God and God’s people. But the first reading doesn’t just highlight their strength but also their weakness. Each of these heroes won victories for God, not because they were the strongest on the field of battle but because of their trust in God who worked out the victory through them. These heroes were portraits of meekness that our beatitudes put before us on Sunday.
Meekness is the balance between strength and gentleness. It is an interior strength and gentleness forged in radical trust and confidence in God. The martyr can be a force of strength born of his spiritual courage even if he is old, young, or bound. The meekness he manifests is a gentle strength born of trust in God and reliance upon him.
Where are we called to cultivate meekness in our lives? Where are we tempted to rely on our own strength exclusively? Where does cowardice cause us to shrink back in decisions or life’s challenges? Let us pray with these heroes of the Old Testament who are icons of meekness and trust in God: who uses them BECAUSE they are not perfect in order to manifest God’s power and might.
January 30th, 2023