When John heard in prison of the works of the Messiah, he sent his disciples to him with this question, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?” Jesus said to them in reply, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind regain their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have the good news proclaimed to them. And blessed is the one who takes no offense at me.”
As they were going off, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John, “What did you go out to the desert to see? A reed swaying in the wind? Then what did you go out to see? Someone dressed in fine clothing? Those who wear fine clothing are in royal palaces. Then why did you go out? To see a prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. This is the one about whom it is written: ‘Behold, I am sending my messenger ahead of you; he will prepare your way before you.’ Amen, I say to you, among those born of women there has been none greater than John the Baptist; yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
Matthew 11:2-11 (NABRE)
The least are the greatest and the greatest are the least.
The “spiritual physics” of the Christian life are quite strange. Throughout Scripture, we read of phrases such as “when I am weak, then I am strong,” “He must increase and I must decrease,” and “the last shall be first and the first shall be last.” Put another way, “up is down,” oddly enough. The essence of these sayings is that we must open ourselves up to the healing power of the Lord if we want to be close to Heaven while on this earth. To do this requires a recognition of our weakness and our inability to do anything apart from the help of the Lord. We humble ourselves, becoming small so that God may make us great. Yet, even in that process, we remain small — we become like children, which is just what Jesus wants from us. The greatest are the smallest in the Kingdom of Heaven.
So yes, when we are weak, we are strong. Why? Because we reach out for help when we need it the most. But we do not have to wait until we are in a pit of sin and misery in order to do this. After all, we should be avoiding sin entirely. All of us can start today, exactly where we are, to acknowledge our weakness and so become strong in the Lord. Once we realize that the omnipotent God, our Lord Jesus Christ, wants to empower us, we see just how much strength is at our disposal.
So, behold your weakness, but see the empty space as a vessel to be filled with grace by a God who gives so generously and willingly and gladly.
Thank you for reading. Peace.
Eat the Scroll 