On Monday of this past week we moved into Ordinary Time in the church’s liturgical calendar. As I spoke with the students at Mass, we are simply walking with Christ on His daily life journey as He speaks to His disciples words of comfort, of conviction, and of hope: “The kingdom is here, repent and believe.”
Jesus and His disciples were living in an occupied country governed by the mighty Roman Empire and He was walking a very fine line of treason or religious heresy. The Pharisees believed in many of the things Jesus taught, but they also worked with the Romans and the Sadducees believed in the literal interpretation of the Law and in the rituals of the Temple. There were many voices that tried to silence the people’s ability to hear Jesus, but as the gospels proclaim the people hung on His every word. Later the Pharisees united with the Sadducees to condemn Jesus to death.
Today we live in a broken world, in a struggling country. There are many voices that scream destruction, violence and hate. One of the hardest confessions I have ever heard was at least 15-20 years ago. A person in confession stated their anger at all the news reports and false videos showing the Holocaust. “It never happened.” I stated at that time I had been to the Dachau Concentration Camp outside of Munich Germany where thousands of prisoners; Catholic priests, political prisoners and Jews were killed.” The response was no, that wasn’t true and I was called a liar. I was too shaken and gave absolution. I have reflected upon that event many times and worried how many people believe even in the face of eye witnesses and proof what they are told and want to believe. I have many times prayed for that individual.
Our world contains the reality of Jesus Christ and the recognition that not all is well despite Jesus’s power. To reconcile this, we must recognize that it is in weakness that Christ’s power is truly shown. The weakness of our lives, in the face of hatred, can be the witness the world needs to be overcome by love. Christ offered to the people great signs and wonders, but often, they were not converted, but by a humiliating death, he converted millions. Our lives, in order to show the world his word is true, must be one of humble service and weakness.
Weakness overcomes power when empowered by Jesus Christ. Be open to Christ’s power by being humble before him and the world. Offer your life and the world will notice and change.