Nobody likes a wimp or a whiner.
Our media—whether the relentless paparazzi, talk radio, or so many of the cable “news” shows—is “in your face.” Professional boxing and wrestling have surrendered their pay-for-view popularity to the UFC and the almost-no-holds-barred world of mixed martial arts. Political debates—ostensibly held to inform voters about the candidates—have become a virtual sound bite smorgasbord which, in any case, is being smothered by a bitter and greasy cacophony of expensive “issue ads” put out a variety of shadowy groups who, thanks to the Supreme Court ruling in the Citizens United case, are demonstrating daily that speech, like time, is money.
It’s not a time when many appreciate the gift and virtue of gentleness. Yet it was a hallmark of Jesus and his ministry. He certainly didn’t shrink from confronting evil, hypocrisy, ignorance, or a lack of mercy; and he wasn’t afraid of showing his anger. At the same time he was remarkably gentle with sinners, the sick and suffering. In Matthew 11: he gives us this compassionate invitation:
Come to me, all you who labor and are overburdened, and I will give you rest. Shoulder my yoke and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Yes, my yoke is easy and my burden light (NJB)
In his encounter with the woman caught in the act of adultery (John 8:1-12), Jesus demonstrates his gentle spirit. There was little doubt that she had sinned; but while the religious leaders and crowd were ready to pick up stones and summarily execute her Jesus had a far different response: he stooped down and wrote in the dirt. When the others demanded an answer from him, he did not respond with a loud and self-righteous speech or even a defense of his own actions. Instead he simply replied, “Let those who are without sin be the first to cast a stone at her.”
That did the trick. One by one, people in the crowd dropped their stones and walked away. Even when he was left alone with the woman Jesus refused to condemn her; but he didn’t let her off the hook for her behavior, letting her depart with her life spared and a gentle but firm admonition to avoid sin.
Gentleness, Jesus reminds us, is not weakness but quiet strength.—JC
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