Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (A) Jane Vajnar...

Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (A)

Jane Vajnar relates this event that took place in her friend’s family:

My friend’s four boys were young and bursting with energy, especially in church. But the sermon her minister preached on “turning the other cheek” got their undivided attention. The minister stressed that no matter what others do to us, we should never try to “get even.” That afternoon the youngest boy came into the house crying. Between sobs he told his mother he had kicked one of his brothers, who had kicked him in return. “I’m sorry you’re hurt,” his mother said. “But you shouldn’t go around kicking people.” To which the tearful child replied, “But the preacher said he isn’t supposed to kick me back.” [Tampa, Kansas. “Lite Fare,” Christian Reader.]

That child was acting like many of us.  He thought Christ’s teaching was for his brother not for him. The famous atheist Frederick Nietzsche, who coined the phrase “God is dead,” once said, “Assert yourself. Care for nothing except yourself. The only vice is weakness and the only virtue is strength. Be strong. Be a superman. The world is yours if you work hard enough for it!” Jesus said, “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth” (Matthew 5:5). Two very different ideas. Although the first words are from an atheist, and the last quote from the teaching of Jesus, it often seems that Christians, especially we in America,  go by Nietzsche’s philosophy rather than Jesus’ teaching. We live as though the only virtue is strength. Jesus never talked about strength, but he often spoke of meekness.

What does this look like in the life of Jesus, and what does it look like in our lives? The first point is: Meekness means we do not retaliate. It means that when we are hurt by someone we do not try to hurt back. We do not hold a grudge. We seek reconciliation. We do not give insult for insult. The second point is: Meekness means living without fear. Meekness includes a submissiveness to the will and heart of God. What this translates into is trust that frees us from fear.  Jesus was able to surrender to the will of God because he trusted in God. He believed that God would work it out and bring good from it. When we trust God we lose much of the fear that many people live with. You don’t have to struggle at being in control when we trust that he is in control. The values of the kingdom are right-side-up from the upside-down values of the world. The third point is: Meekness comes with a blessing. Jesus said, “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth” (Matthew 5:5). It is not the strong and powerful or wealthy and famous who inherit the earth, it is the meek. This is heavenly wisdom, living according to the Spirit, not worldly wisdom, what St. Paul calls in today’s second reading. “living according to the flesh”.

Rodney Buchanan sums today’s invitation to the virtue meekness in this way:

 
Have you ever been asked: “Isn’t Christianity a crutch for people who are weak and can’t make it on their own?”  I wish I had a nickel for every time I’ve heard that question. I don’t know about you, but I used to get offended when people asked me that question. I considered the question to be an insult! I would think, ‘I’m not a 95 lb. spiritual weakling! I’m a strong, together person!’ But I see things differently now. If someone were to ask me that question this morning, ‘Isn’t Christianity a crutch for people who are weak and can’t make it on their own?’ I would answer, ‘Yes, it is. I need Jesus. I’m not ashamed to admit it!”