Sunday, July 06, 2008 Lagura: Gentle and humble of heart By Fr. Flor Lagura, SVD in the service of the word
ONCE the Sun smilingly received a challenge from the whirling Wind to see who was the stronger. With undisguised pride, the Wind said, “I will prove to you that I am stronger. See down the road that old man wearing a big coat? I bet you I can take away his coat much quicker than you can.” “Okay,” replied the Sun, as he humbly hid behind some clouds through which he could still see what the Wind would be doing.
The Wind huffed and puffed with all his might thereby raising a great cloud of dust. However, the harder he huffed, the tighter the old man clung to his coat. In the end the Wind gasped for breath and gave the Sun his chance to take off the old man’s coat from his back.
When the Sun finally had his turn, he gently smiled brightly and warmly with abundant rays of sunshine at the old man. Not long afterwards, the man felt warm, then hot, and as he started to sweat he slowly took his coat off. Gentleness prevailed over raw strength.
Jesus told his disciples, “Learn from me, for I am gentle and humble of heart.” We mistakenly take gentleness as a sign of weakness and as totally out of place in today’s world where, if you want to get something or arrive at your goal, then you have to play hard ball. Otherwise, you will become a perennial doormat. Not a few consider gentleness as synonymous to timidity, passivity and weakness.
Far from being a sign of weakness, gentleness is a form of real strength. As St. Francis de Sales said, “Nothing is so strong as gentleness, nothing so gentle as real strength.” Gentleness requires real strength and self-confidence so that one can earn the title of a true gentleman. He is one who, when tested by difficulties and contradictions, does not try to break them. Instead, he bends them with gentleness and time.(St. Francis de Sales)
Like gentleness, humility is perceived in today’s highly competitive world as a sign of weakness. In truth, however, humility does not mean self-depreciation but the building of our lives on a foundation that is truly stable and strong. This foundation is none other than our recognizing whatever we have and are as coming from God. And to be happy as well as grateful about it. Humble people, like silent waters, are treasured and, in turn, treasure others for whom they provide emboldening peaceful presence and comforting support. With gentleness and humility one can bring out the best in others.
Such is the message of the Lord who respects our freedom, not once trying to impose himself on us or controlling us, in order to make us live the freedom as sons and daughters of the Father.
“Come to me and I will give you rest—all you who work so hard beneath a heavy yoke. Take my yoke and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble, and you shall find rest. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11: 28-30
