Today’s readings provide insight into the courage of conviction. This courage emerges in the face of difficulty, keeping us moving instead of becoming paralyzed from fear or doubt. It is rooted in the personal knowledge of God’s character that allows us to trust in His providential love. We might like to avoid such trials, but we cannot become stouthearted without them.
Job’s commentary addresses familiar complications that accompany trouble in this life. Job was hounded by friends who plied him with worldly advice to explain or extract himself from the struggles he was endured. But Job held fast to what he knew to be true about God: “I know that my Vindicator lives, and that we will at last stand forth upon the dust; Whom I myself shall see; my own eyes, not another’s, shall behold him, And from my flesh I shall see God …” Notice the personal relationship here. He is confident that he will behold his Vindicator, who knows him and will raise him up and stand together with him on the dust of the earth – even amidst all the messiness in this life.
Today’s psalm comes from a place where the sting of suffering is real and accusations of doubt and failure are coming hard and fast. The psalmist persists with faith in the goodness of God, from whom he knows that help will indeed come. “Wait for the LORD with courage; be stouthearted and wait for the LORD.” We often need encouraging words. If others are not speaking such words, we may need to say them ourselves.
Great and weighty trials may not be a regular feature of our daily sphere of action. But consider today’s memorial saint – Therese of the Child Jesus – whose embrace of the “little way” shows how devotion in the seemingly mundane is of great importance to the kingdom of God. Mothers (like my dear wife) who must deal with daily household chores, the needs of small children (and grandchildren), and the supportive care of others show stoutheartedness in their tender care. Fathers likewise manifest stoutheartedness in daily work done faithfully and with devotion. These, too, are building the Kingdom of God in the mundane, rather than the dramatic.
Today’s gospel shows the missioning of disciples sent out to minister to a needy world that would not always be friendly and receptive. They were instructed to abandon self-sufficiency, trusting instead that others also missioned by God will help them. They were warned to expect resistance, but to carry on and get it done. Dust is found here, too. Shake it off when necessary and move on. This sounds like an express path to stoutheartedness!
Stoutheartedness grows through challenges that stretch us beyond our comfort zones. As we ponder the stouthearted way, let us consider how to move beyond our trust in the familiar (our resources, proven skills, and talents) toward greater reliance on the Lord’s goodness and character. He is sending us to bring the love and power of Christ into a world full of naysayers and doubters – just as someone else did for us. That could be a missionary journey, or it could be right in your workplace or even your family home. Remember that our Vindicator is always nearby, ready to raise us up to stand together with Him, even in the midst of the dust. Thanks be to God.
Edward Morse
Ed Morse is a professor of law who holds the McGrath North Endowed Chair in business law at Creighton. University School of Law. He and his wife Susan are Catholic converts. Together, they operate a family cattle farm in rural Western Iowa.
Writing these reflections over the past fifteen years has helped me to learn and grow in faith. Sometimes it has also chastened me by reminding me of the constant need to practice what we have learned as we live out our faith journey together. I am grateful for feedback and encouragement from my fellow travelers.
