14th Sunday A 5 July 2026 Sermon

14th Sunday A   5 July 2026    Gentle Jesus?

I heard a report some years ago that women in the black American population were encouraging their husbands to become Muslims. The women perceived that the men might find Christianity too weak a religion, with its insistence on turning the other cheek, on forgiving the offender etc.

But was Christ a weakling? And it is He that Christians follow.

Jesus did on one occasion, certainly, use physical force (expelling traders from the Temple (Jn  2,13-16). And on several occasions He spoke sharply to the Pharisees (Mt 23). He was not afraid of people, not afraid to speak His mind.

In fact He showed extraordinary courage in facing death so calmly. Even more so, when it was a death He could have avoided, either by human prudence or divine intervention.

Jesus was always in control of Himself, and of the situation. He was certainly not weak in terms of lacking influence or control.

What then is the perceived weakness in our religion, and how can we understand it?

We understand that Christians should not use physical force to achieve their ends unless the force is necessary, as for example, to repel an unjust aggressor, or to inflict a just punishment.

This is not weakness, but strength. To be able to control our passions to this extent shows strength of character.

It means that we (with Christ as our model) can find the right response in every situation.

Not every situation requires the same treatment. Christ was severe with the Pharisees and gentle with the woman caught in adultery (Jn 8, 1-11). It was not that He was in a bad mood one day and a good mood the next. He was dealing with each situation in the best possible way.

Our attitude to every other person is one of good will. We desire what is best for each person. Ultimately this means their eternal salvation. In the short term it may mean a whole range of things, but always with the other person’s good in mind.

It is not just in our actions that we are moderate, but in our attitude as well.

We do not hurt people physically, nor do we want to hurt them. This is another level of gentleness.

We do not hate, do not resent, do not seek revenge. All of this we learn from Christ.

Father, forgive them; they know not what they do. (Lk 23,34)

Is this weakness then? No, even more so this proves strength of character and self-control. If we can control our thoughts and feelings we can control anything.

Jesus could control His thoughts and feelings and He is teaching us how to do likewise.

He was gentle, but not weak. He was fiercely attached to the right and good. He always did what was right. He always sought the ultimate good for all concerned.

He was a far stronger and far better person than anyone else around.

If that is weakness then let’s have some more of it!

We do not have to let people walk all over us. We are entitled to defend ourselves and to restrain aggressors. We are entitled to put our case in a dispute.

But at all times we act with self-control, and with a view to the welfare of the other parties.

Certain saints have been robbed and been more sorry for the robbers’ souls than for the damage done to themselves.

So if we find robbers have been in our house, are we more worried for the soul of the thief than for the value of the goods. Can we rise to that occasion?

In any case it is not weak to aspire to that level of charity. And Jesus was like that all the time.

Let us be Christ-ian, Christ-like and take up a really strong religion.