The First Sunday in Ordinary Time/Baptism of Our Lord (Cycle C)

The tie in between today’s readings: Meekness

Psalm 29:1-11, Isaiah 42:1-7, Titus 2:11-14, Luke 3:15-22

Psalm 29 opens with the Lord in His strength and glory. With a word of His mouth the creation shakes, quakes, and breaks. He can rip, strip, and flip anything He wishes without breaking a sweat. When it comes to judgment, WATCH OUT! Our God is consuming fire. Yet, in verse 11, the Psalmist shows the Almighty as tender and nurturing. Surprising contradiction? Not if you understand meekness.  Meekness is a wild mustang under bridle, the linebacker holding his position while aching to blitz, and the bug you take outside the house instead of crushing it with your shoe. In ancient times, it was a desired attribute of a king and so it is with our Sovereign God, because meekness is power under control.

Today, we usually think of a meek person as a wimp. Nobody would call a guy who could fast for forty days in a desert, eject the money changers from the temple (twice), or go toe to toe with the authorities of His day a sissy. But meek is exactly how Jesus described Himself. You cannot be meek unless you are strong. Meekness is the active and deliberate acceptance of undesirable circumstances by an individual for the sake of the bigger picture. If we use Isaiah 42:1-7 as a guide, it is a subtle mix of wisdom, humility, and self-control. Bravo for Jesus the meek and mighty, but how does it apply to ordinary me?

We are to be like Him. Meekness is a characteristic of God acting in a person’s life. It comes through the washing of the rebirth and the renewal by the Holy Spirit (Titus 3:4-7). A meek person can lead as well as gladly serve. Forgive his trespasser (debtor) as well as be forgiven. Step in with boldness when the situation calls for it and be humble at the same time. Quick to hear but measured to give an opinion. Slow to anger but rushes to defend the oppressed. Not quarrelsome, but firm in purpose. Let’s look at our reading in Titus 2:11-14

For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.

Those are pretty good qualities for the future inheritors of the earth.

We can use John the Baptist in our reading in Luke 3:15-22 as an example of meekness in action. John was bold in his mission as the messenger but kept his perspective that he was in the employ of the Greater One. He served at the pleasure of the Master of whom he was not worthy to untie His sandal. At the pinnacle of his ministry, he described himself merely as a friend of the bridegroom. “He must increase while I must decrease “(John 3:28-30). He did decrease; thrown in jail and senselessly executed. Jesus the bridegroom praised the Baptist as the greatest of the prophets.  Christ challenges us to meekness, as well. Take up your cross. Follow the Lord and be like Him.  

Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29TakeMy yoke upon you and learn from Me; for I am gentle (meek) and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”…Matt 11:28-30.

Focus, pray, and strive for meekness. That’s where the real strength is.