SATURDAY, TWENTIETH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
Ru 2:1-3,8-11; 4:13-17 Ps 128:1-5 Mt 23:1-12
THE MEEK AND MERCIFUL HEART
The book of Ruth tells the charming story of a wonderful woman. What makes her great is her profession of faith “where ever you go I will go, where ever you lodge I will lodge, your people shall be my people and your God my God”. Ruth is portrayed as highly submissive and deferential towards both Naomi and Boaz. Boaz is also of noble character; he is generous in safeguarding the rights of the poor, the stranger and the widow. He protects Ruth and provides for her inconveniences.
On the other hand, in the Gospel passage, we come face to face with the contrasting personalities of the scribes and the Pharisees, who challenged Jesus time and again. They lived hypocritical lives engrossed in religiosity, and considered themselves perfect beings who weren’t in need of God’s mercy. Jesus asks his disciples to be selfless in serving others. For Jesus, true authority does not manifest itself in being powerful but in empowering others. It comes in the form of service. Jesus, the model of humility in authority, urges us all: “Learn from me for I am meek and humble of heart”.
A merciful heart does not mean a weak heart. Anyone who wishes to be merciful must have…
- a strong and steadfast heart, closed to anger and open to God.
- a heart that lets itself be pierced by the Spirit so as to allow the love of God to pour out on the world,
- a poor heart, that recognizes the freedom that comes from being attached to nothing, and thus makes itself available to everyone.
Let us learn from Jesus therefore, who is meek and humble of heart. Let our lives be a true reflection of Him, and let our words and actions manifest His love, so that we may become beacons of God’s compassion to all.
Response: Indeed thus shall be blessed the man who fears the Lord
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