Power of Meekness: Jesus sets an example

		Living the Scriptures  with St. Paul University  Catholic Center  Steph Place

During a Bible study this semester, we discussed the Beatitudes.

When we got to "Blessed are the meek for they will inherit the earth," one of my friends said, "You know, meek is not the same as weak." I nodded in agreement, but I didn't think much more about it as we moved on through Jesus' teachings.

When I read this Sunday's Gospel and heard Jesus describe himself as meek, I remembered the amazing promise made to those who are meek and decided it was about time to find out what it really means to be meek.

14th Sunday in Ordinary Time (July 3, 2005) Zec 9:9-10 Ps 145:1-2, 8-9, 10-11, 13-14 Rom 8:9, 11-13 Mt 11:25-30

The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines "meek" as "enduring injury with patience and without resentment; mild; deficient in spirit and courage; submissive; not violent or strong." Hmm. I can understand Jesus discouraging violence . . . but no strength, either?

The Savior I've learned to love is absolutely anything but weak or "deficient in spirit and courage." Indeed, the only power any human ever had over Jesus was given by the Father. Time for a new dictionary.

Cambridge Dictionary defines "meek" as "quiet and unwilling to disagree or fight or to strongly support personal ideas and opinions." Good night! If you look at the rest of Matthew 11, you'll hear Jesus proclaiming the downfall of an entire city. His entire life was a witness to what was not only his personal opinion, but the ultimate truth.

I finally gave up on dictionaries and went to the Catechism of the Catholic Church. There we find a very different picture of meekness. Meekness is strength controlled by wisdom.

As creatures, we are called to strive for the full measure of perfection that our Creator has imagined for us. Part of that perfection is wisdom, understanding of oneself in relation to God and others, and self-control.

Meekness is swallowing pride to let someone teach you. Meekness is being patient with a rude cashier, even after you've had a frustrating day yourself. Meekness is embracing the will of the Father, even when it clashes with our own will.

My friend was absolutely right . . . Meekness takes strength! How much easier is it to let a grudge fester than to forgive someone? To make excuses rather than practice obedience?

	Reflection question • Picture someone whose character you really admire. What examples of meekness do you see in that person?

This week's Gospel provides a reminder of just how important this virtue is and an example of meekness in action: Jesus, the Son of the Living God, offers to share our earthly burden and lead us to fields of rest.

Let's take him up on that invitation.

Steph Place is a sophomore at the UW-Madison studying medical sciences. This semester, the Spirit has her fired up about leading high school retreats and Bible studies at St. Paul University Catholic Center.

St. Paul's Web site is www.stpaulscc.org

Whoever has ears ought to hear . . . and listen

		Living the Scriptures  with St. Paul University  Catholic Center  Keith Cronin

The Lord has given me some tremendous gifts over the past few months. I completed my degree at UW-Madison, accepted a great job offer, and began an engagement with my girlfriend.

I'm certain that all of these gifts are from God, and they came not only through faithful prayer, but also quiet meditation. It wasn't until I spent time before the Blessed Sacrament, listening to what God was saying, that I understood the events of my life and the decisions I had to make.

So often I've prayed for God to speak in my life. If only He would speak, I could listen and know where He wanted to lead me. But in doing this, I was neglecting the fact that God is speaking.

15th Sunday in Ordinary Time (July 10, 2005) Is 55:10-11 Ps 65:10, 11, 12-13, 14 Rom 8:18-23 Mt 13:1-23 or 13:1-9

He's speaking everywhere through everything that is happening in my life. If I can't hear what God is saying, perhaps it's not because He isn't speaking, but rather because I'm not listening.

In this Sunday's Gospel, Jesus tells the parable of the sower. The disciples ask why Jesus speaks to the crowd in parables and He replies that "'they look but do not see and hear but do not listen or understand.'"

How often do we hear God speak through Scripture and the events and people of our lives but neglect or refuse to listen!? Most of the time that I find myself not actually listening, it's not because I want to ignore the message, but because I'm too rushed or I think I already understand.

Whatever the reason, the consequence is the same: confusion, frustration, and hard-heartedness.

Jesus tells His disciples, "Many prophets and righteous people longed. . . to hear what you hear but did not hear it." I think of all the righteous people who lived before Jesus' time who longed to listen to the Word made flesh. I think of all the saints and holy people who have lived since Jesus' time who were denied free access to the Gospels because of circumstantial or political reasons.

And then I think about how sometimes the bible on my nightstand gets covered over and disregarded for days. God speaks, but my heart is far from being fertile soil, ready to receive the sower's seed.

	Reflection question • Do I neglect or refuse what God is saying in my life?

I've learned that I should no longer pray for God to speak, but instead that God would open my ears to hear Him. I must pray that He would make my heart like fertile and fruitful soil, willing to receive all that He has for me and ready to proclaim His good works.

May all of us hear, listen, and understand God's Word with humble and hungry hearts.

Keith Cronin graduated from UW-Madison in May 2005, where he was an active member of St. Paul's Catholic Student Union. He earned a bachelor's degree in civil engineering, currently lives and works in Milwaukee, and is engaged to be married in January 2006.

St. Paul's Web site is www.stpaulscc.org

Faith Alive!

In a Nutshell Parishes are places where people grow in the ways of discipleship. But being such a community takes planning. A pastoral plan is a means of acting upon a parish's vision -- upon its most basic reason for being. Pastoral planning is all about serving people within the parish and serving people beyond the church's walls as well. Catholic News Service 3211 Fourth St NE Washington DC 20017 202.541.3250 cns@catholicnews.com	Food for Thought   A lot can go right in a parish, and a lot can go wrong. What can go wrong? Well, important needs and hopes of some community members can get overlooked, for example. One way parishes try to assure that things go right and to avoid their going wrong is through pastoral planning. This is a process by which parishes clarify their goals and objectives, and attempt to determine ways of achieving them. Among other things, pastoral planning allows the needs and hopes of members of the community to be expressed. It can help, for instance, to assure that no ethnic group is overlooked. Through pastoral planning, parishes and their people put new programs into effect, and they revitalize, replace or reaffirm old programs. Pastoral planners attempt to clarify priorities. full story   How our parish set its goals By Leisa Anslinger Catholic News Service "Without vision, the people perish," says one translation of Proverbs 29:17. My pastor often reminds us that "without vision, the parish will perish." Sharing a vision guides what we do and why. full story  Who are the pastoral planners in a parish? By Scott Rutan Catholic News Service One thing is common to all pastoral planning: the people involved. This might seem obvious. But it also can seem truly amazing, particularly when you realize just many people participate in pastoral planning! Pastoral planning tends to mean different things in different places. For some, it primarily is an activity within a parish, while for others it is a regional or diocesan process that takes in a broader scope of issues and challenges. full story  When parish leaders need training By Dan Luby Catholic News Service In the marble interior of the church, every sound -- coughs, creaking pews, spoken words -- echoed loudly. To the ears of the 12-year-old Mass server, none was more deafening than the panic-stricken whisper of his little brother. "Now?" the younger boy hissed urgently. full story
	Faith in the Marketplace   This Week's Discussion Point: What concerns and needs does your parish pastoral council address?     Selected Response From Readers:
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