The associated reading for this reflection can be found in your Every Sacred Sunday Mass journal or online here.
As an elementary school teacher, I am surrounded by tiny humans who love to live life to the fullest. This year has been a year of more rules and guidance for them for mask wearing, washing their hands, and not sharing snacks. Every day I find myself explaining why we shouldn’t stick our fingers in our nose and why we should wash our hands. If only they knew these “rules” are only to keep each other safe. I laugh every time because I can just imagine how God sees us as his children. “If only you knew that everything I am telling you is because I love you and I want to keep you safe.”
I remember my high school youth minister talking about the nature of the ten commandments and that they are not meant to restrict or punish, but to set free. We have the gift of free will and God, in his infinite wisdom, gifted us with a guide to align our actions to what is true and good.
Today's second reading speaks on the wisdom and weakness of God in comparison to our human wisdom and strength. “For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.” When I read these words, I couldn’t help but take a second to panic because my inclination to be in control has always been second nature. But these words are meant to relieve. There is consolation and peace knowing that we have a God who is infinitely stronger and wiser than we are. Oftentimes, we would rather settle for our own capabilities than rely on the strength of God. Fortunately, today’s readings remind us of our call to ultimate littleness. A call to be completely dependent on a God who can and who is able. We are faced with different seasons of life, and, for some of us, these are painful seasons, seasons of hurt, loneliness, transition, overwhelm, loss, or exhaustion. But not only does our Lord walk with us in these seasons, he experienced them himself.
The gospel today and the season of lent encompasses Jesus’ encounter with the human experience and the call to littleness and dependence. Today’s scripture shares that not only did Jesus know human nature, he understood it well. As we continue on this lenten journey, let him into those weak and deserted places that we control or hide away. His strength and might is waiting to carry the way.
Let us pray together: Jesus, I lay down every weakness, every fabric of my being. In my littleness you see me, and you understand everything. I relinquish any control that I hold onto and place it at the foot of the cross. In my frailty my hope is in your wisdom and strength. Amen.