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Tuesday, August 18, 2009, St. Jane Frances de Chantal
Judges 6:11-24, Psalm 85:9, 11-14, Matthew 19:23-30
Link to Readings --> http://www.usccb.org/nab/081809.shtml
GIDEON AND MIDIAN
"The last shall come first." —Matthew 19:30
The Israelites were oppressed externally by the nation of Midian, and
internally by their own idolatry. Joash the Abiezrite, father of Gideon,
had built an altar to an idol (Jgs 6:25), as well as a sacred pole used in
idol worship. God called the fearful Gideon to deliver Israel from
Midianite oppression (Jgs 6:14).
When Gideon assembled a large army, God told him, "You have too many
soldiers with you for Me to deliver Midian into [your] power" (Jgs 7:2).
So God told Gideon to send the fearful men home, which reduced the army to
32% of its original force. God said: "There are still too many soldiers"
(Jgs 7:4). Then God devised a test to show which of those who were not
afraid would be alert, ready, and prepared for battle (Jgs 7:5; cp Mt
25:1-13). After this test, less than 1% of the original soldiers remained.
It was through these three-hundred lowly, obedient Israelites that God
received glory when He delivered Israel through Gideon. God chooses the
weak, "insignificant" (Jgs 6:15), and lowly so that He will receive glory
(see Ex 14:18). The last come first (Mt 19:30).
The victorious Gideon refused to grab the glory from the Lord. He instead
told the people to subject themselves to the Lord instead of their former
idols, saying: "The Lord must rule over you" (Jgs 8:23). God doesn't need
multitudes to be victorious. What He wants is spirit-filled servants who
abandon themselves to Him (Jgs 6:34) and leaders who put His will above
all else (Jgs 6:25ff; Mt 19:29).
Prayer: Lord, I want to be a "champion" for You (Jgs 6:12).
Promise: "For man it is impossible; but for God all things are
possible." —Mt 19:26
Praise: St. Jane Frances, a widow with four children, abandoned herself to
being the Bridegroom's bride. She then lived as a consecrated religious
for thirty-one years, building an order by founding eighty-six convents in
her lifetime.
(This teaching was submitted by a member of our editorial team.)
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Rescript: In accord with the "Code of Canon Law", I hereby grant my
permission to publish "One Bread, One Body" covering the period from
August 1, 2009 through September 30, 2009
†Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of
Cincinnati, February 11, 2009
The rescript is a declaration that a book or pamphlet is considered to be
free of doctrinal or moral error. It is not implied that those who have
granted ecclesial permission agree with the contents, opinions, or
statements expressed.
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