Seeking Peace - Notes and Conversations along the Way - Plough

The Strength of weaknessI have often thought that the most diffcult of Jesus’ paradoxicalsayings – at least in terms of putting it into practice– might be the verse in Matthew where Jesus has justnoticed a child. He turns to his disciples and tells them,“Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest inthe kingdom of heaven.”To become like a child means to unlearn almost everythingsociety has taught us about growing up. It meansovercoming our temptation to look strong. It meansbeing willing to be hurt, rather than protecting ourselves.It means recognizing that we have limitations and weaknesses,and humbly coming to terms with them.Christ healed the sick, fed crowds, turned water intowine, and walked on water. He had every source of strengthat his command. But when he was arrested, brought beforePilate, mocked, scourged, and crucified, he refused todefend himself. And he did not choose to be born in apalace, but in a humble stable.Christ chose the “weakness” of submission, and perhapsthat is a hidden key to his peace. Dorothy Day writes:We are told to put on Christ, and we think of him in his privatelife, his life of work, his public life, his teaching, and hissuffering life. But we do not think enough of his life as a littlechild, as a baby. His helplessness. His powerlessness. We haveto be content to be in that state too. Not to be able to do anything,to accomplish anything.Gertrud Wegner, a family friend, was forced to accept thisstate when an accident left her unable to move:I was at a business exhibit with my husband in Washington,D.C., and I fell and severely injured my spinal cord. I knew50