Advent Reflections (Day 28)
Advent Reflections (Day 28)
Putting On the Virtue of Gentleness
December 24, 2022
“Passionate” gentleness1 knows how to direct anger to root out injustice, to channel it so that “justice rolls like a river.”2 W. E. B. DuBois sums up this gentle passion in a lovely prayer: Give us grace, O God, to dare to do the deed which we well know cries to be done. Let us not hesitate because of ease, or the words of men’s mouths, or our own lives. Mighty causes are calling us — the freeing of women, the training of children, the putting down of hate and murder and poverty — all these and more. But they call with voices that mean work and sacrifice and death. Mercifully, grant us, O God, the spirit of Esther, that we say: I will go unto the King and if I perish, I perish. Amen.
1Cf. Walter Burghardt, “A Faith That Does Justice,” Warren Series Lectures, in Catholic Studies (# 18; November 17, 1991) 9.
2Amos 5:24..
Source: Fr. Robert P. Maloney, C.M. A Further Look at “Gentleness”
Let us pray
Lord, help us to recognize the causes that are calling out to us and may we work passionately for justice in our communities and nations.
Scripture
…but though we had already suffered and been shamefully mistreated at Philippi, as you know, we had courage in our God to declare to you the gospel of God in spite of great opposition.
1 Thessalonians 2:2
Tags: Advent
1 Comment
Thank You, Bob,
Christmas Eve Greetings from the Simmons Family home in McLean Va.
Thought of you as we Acela’d through Philly on Thursday a bit ahead of the storm. We are all assembled here and assembling still for a family Christmas celebration and our 62nd Anniversary.
Your GENTLENESS reflections through Advent have been a daily blessing and a reminder to stay that course in the days ahead and in gratitude for the time bestowed upon us as pure gift.