Tuesday of the Twentieth Week in Ordinary Time
Yesterday’s first reading from the Book of Judges explained that when the people were threatened from within by moral or religious corruption, or from without by attack or oppression of foreigners, the Lord “raised up judges for them, he would be with the judge and save them from the power of their enemies as long as the judge lived” (Judges 2:18).
The Lord called Gideon to come to the aid of his people who were threatened by their enemies and feeling abandoned by God. The Lord said to Gideon, “Go with the strength you have and save Israel from the power of Midian. It is I who send you.”
Go with the strength you have. There are a lot of areas where I wished I had more talent or skill. It is often easy to see one’s own deficiencies. And, perhaps, it is even easier to hide behind one’s weaknesses or use it as an excuse not to act or not to respond to an inspiration or a call that the Lord has placed on our hearts. The leap of faith we often have to make is simply to go with the strength you have. Another way of saying this is: Trust that God will provide for your needs.
I think the Lord gives us many invitations to go deeper in our faith. These invitations can come through friends, a pastor, or people at the parish. You might feel inspired to start a Bible study, volunteer, serve the poor, reach out to the homebound, take a silent retreat, or extend forgiveness in a strained relationship. Go with the strength you have. Place everything in God’s hands, trusting that the Lord will lead you as He led countless men and women throughout biblical history who saw themselves as ill-prepared or unequipped. If God’s call to you is authentic, He will give you the strength you need.
It doesn’t all depend on you, and we need to start living that way. Even Jesus reminded His disciples: “For men this is impossible, but for God all things are possible.”
Reflection Question: Where is the Lord moving my heart, and how do I desire to respond?
Reflection by Fr. Paul Sheller, OSB
Posted in Articles for Ordinary Time, Daily Reflections