Gentleness & Justice

Scripture Reflection for the Feast of the baptism of the Lord (January 13, 2013)

Scripture Readings:
Isaiah 42: 1-4, 6-7 or Isaiah 40:1-5, 9-11
Psalm 29:1-4, 9-10 or Psalm 104:1b-4, 24-25, 27-30
Acts 10:34-38 or Titus 2:11-14, 3:4-7
Luke 3:15-16, 21-22

I love Advent and Christmas. I resonate with the hopeful anticipation of God’s action in our lives, which is characteristic of Advent. I also appreciate the joyful celebration in the midst of struggle we pray with throughout the Christmas season. However, the holidays are always a mixed experience for me. I thoroughly enjoy time with my family and delighting in my baby niece. Yet, there’s usually pain and darkness too—this year in those looking for jobs, family members who can’t seem to get along, a dear one on hospice who doesn’t have much longer to live, and interactions with those I love who struggle with addiction. It doesn’t even begin to touch on all the suffering in the larger world. Both the joy and pain in people’s lives seem to intensify during the holidays, and I believe we all continue to hold both as we liturgically move into Ordinary Time with the Baptism of the Lord.

The first reading from Isaiah speaks of gentleness and justice, which are two concepts that are not typically held together. Justice seems to be about all those who have been hurt, taken advantage of, or oppressed receiving their vindication. This goes for the structures in the world too. All the brokenness is made whole. However, when we talk about justice we usually think in terms of those who are the cause of the harm receiving what they deserve. For instance, in the legal system, justice for victims equals punishment for offenders. Yet, this doesn’t fit with the idea that the chosen bringer of justice will not break a bruised reed or quench a smoldering wick. I do not find punishment from God in this reading, only a tension between justice and gentleness, which leads me to consider the following:

Who are the bruised reeds and smoldering wicks in my life?
When have I been bruised or smoldering or just hanging on?
Can my own experience help me to be gentle with others?

Now, I’m not suggesting there shouldn’t be societal consequences for causing harm. Of course there should be. However, it’s good that we leave the spiritual consequences up to God. Thankfully, God’s justice includes gentleness and is wider and more inclusive than our human sense of fairness. After all, I know I’d rather be treated with gentleness than fairness.

When held together, the Isaiah reading and the gospel reading show us that Jesus will be the bringer of this justice. Jesus is baptized, as are Christians everywhere, marking the beginning of a ministry of healing and proclaiming God’s love for those who are suffering and also calling out those who misuse their power. This is our call too—regardless of age, gender, vocation, ethnicity, or cultural background.

Practically speaking, this could mean finding ways to be intentionally gentle with the “black sheep” in the family or the person who most drives me crazy in my everyday life. We could make a discipline out of searching for opportunities to be gentle with others in the ordinary moments of our lives as we enter into the season of Ordinary Time, trusting that God will be “well pleased” with these simple efforts.

Image: "Grass Seeding" by Pauline Moir. Source: www.publicdomainpictures.net