In Luke 7:11-17, we read about a widow whose only son has died.  Verse 13 says, “when the Lord saw her, he felt sorry for her and said to her, don’t cry.”  Jesus then restored the young man to life and gave him to his mother (Luke 7:14-15).  

The Lord’s gentleness and tenderness in this encounter are so beautiful.  Jesus is “gentle and humble in heart” (Matthew 11:29).  St. Paul also speaks of the “gentleness and forbearance of Christ” in 2 Corinthians 10:1.  

In a wonderful way, we see the tenderness of God throughout the Psalms.  For example, Psalm 116:5 says, “the Lord is merciful and upright, our God is tenderness.”  In Psalm 86:15, we read a plea from the psalmist, “Lord, God of tenderness and mercy, slow to anger, rich in faithful love and loyalty, turn to me and pity me.”  And Psalm 103:13 promises that the Lord will treat us tenderly; “as tenderly as a father treats his children, so the Lord treats those who fear him; he knows of what we are made, he remembers that we are dust.”

We, too, are called to live in gentleness like Jesus.  In his letter to the Ephesians, St. Paul encourages us to support one another in love, with all humility, gentleness, and patience (Ephesians 4:1-2).  Likewise, Colossians 3:12 calls us, “as the chosen of God . . . the holy people whom he loves . . . to be clothed in heartfelt compassion, in generosity and humility, gentleness and patience.” 

We can pray, O my Jesus, gentle and humble of heart, please make my heart like yours.  

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In Luke 7:36-50, we read about a woman with “a bad name in the town” who came to Jesus with an alabaster jar of ointment.  “She waited behind him at his feet, weeping, and her tears fell on his feet, and she wiped them away with her hair; then she covered his feet with kisses and anointed them with the ointment” (Luke 7:38).  When one of the Pharisees saw this, in his heart, he criticized the woman and doubted Jesus (Luke 7:39).  

Jesus replied, “You see this woman?  I came into your house, and you poured no water over my feet, but she has poured out her tears over my feet and wiped them away with her hair.  You gave me no kiss, but she has been covering my feet with kisses ever since I came in.  You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment.  For this reason, I tell you that her sins, many as they are, have been forgiven her, because she has shown such great love” (Luke 7:44-47).  

In our lives, too, we have to make a choice about what we will pour ourselves into.  Will we pour ourselves out for the kingdom of God or for this world?  The season of Advent can be a busy time for many.  Our Lord is gently encouraging us to come to him and to reflect on what we are pouring ourselves into this month. 

Sometimes, we can be like Martha, who welcomed Jesus into her home but then became distracted with all the serving and preparations, while Mary sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to him speaking (Luke 10:38-40).  When Martha asked Jesus to instruct Mary to help her with the serving, “the Lord answered, Martha, Martha, he said, you worry and fret about so many things, and yet few are needed, indeed only one” (Luke 10:40-42).  

“Come now . . . fly for a moment from your affairs, escape for a little while from the tumult of your thoughts.  Put aside now your weighty cares and leave your wearisome toils.  Abandon yourself for a little to God and rest for a little in him” (St. Anselm).  

As we just celebrated the feast of St. Lucy, patron of the blind, let us ask the Lord for the grace to see more and more clearly that which we truly need—which is nothing other than Himself, the God of gentleness and peace (Romans 16:20).

“Nothing is wanting to those who possess God; God alone suffices” (St. Teresa of Avila).