20th Week in Ord. Time, Tuesday – 22nd August 2023 – Judges 6,11-24; Mt 19,23-30
Presence as Blessing
In the first reading we see how God uses the weak and insignificant to bring safety and liberation to the people of God. Gideon is an insignificant member of a family and belongs to Manasseh, the less important tribe in Israel. He and the rest of the chosen people are once again oppressed by Midianites. God calls Gideon to be the champion of all the tribes of Israel. After testing to see if it is really the Lord who is calling him to this task, Gideon realizes how blessed he had been to have theophany and not die. God speaks a message of peace and Gideon in turn sets up a memorial to Yahweh. The Lord usually calls the lowly rather than the mighty to act for him. He chose Jacob before Esau; Saul, the least in the tribe of Benjamin; David, the shepherd in the field, and Mary, the lowly from Nazareth. However, God empowers the lowly with the promise to be with them. There is no need of any extraordinary signs other than his presence.
