The Bible is the Real Word of God… 

… describing Real Situations of Human Beings and the World. 
>> The Bible does not shy away from presenting the weaknesses & vulnerability of people. 
In fact, the Bible has a special concern and a likeness for persons who are…

… feeble & fragile

… weak & worn-out

… helpless and hopeless

… unprotected & unarmed

… demoralized & defenseless

The Bible presents an “Anawim God”! 
The term “Anawim” in Hebrew means “The Poor who seek the Lord for deliverance.” 
Literally, “Anawim” means “those who are bowed down”

>> They are the  “poor ones” who remained faithful to God in times of difficulty.

>> They are a “faithful remnant ” even in times of struggles and hardships
God has always taken the ones in the position of powerlessness…

… and placed them in the position of strength. 
The idea of God’s people being poor and delivered by Him is found throughout the Scripture.

Jesus is the Face of this Anawim God. 

>> Though He was God, He emptied Himself and became..

… poor & powerless, frail &feeble

…. like any of us!

Today’s Gospel presents two images quoting Isaiah, on how this “Anawim” Jesus cares for His people: “The bruised reed He will not crush…nor snuff out the smouldering wick”! (Mt 12:20)

What are Bruised Reeds and Smouldering Wicks?
1. The Bruised Reed 

A reed was a tall hollow blade of grass along the river bank. 

>> But sometimes, a strong wind would blow, or people would stamp them down and they would become bowed and bent over…
Battered and shattered lives of people are Bruised Reeds…

… But Jesus does not crush them!

Is my Life like a Bruised Reed?
>> Suppressed by lack of spiritual solace…

>> Devastated by human calamites… 

>> Crushed by a financial crisis… 

>> Disappointed by a death…

>> Hurt by a harsh word…

>> Struck by an illness… 

 

The world may want to cast these bruised reeds aside. 

>> But Jesus reaches out in love and mercy! 
The world did not see their pain and misery. 

>> But Jesus gets in touch to comfort and relieve!

There are lot of Bruised Reeds in the Bible:

>> Martha… 

>> Zacchaeus…

>> The Samaritan woman… 

>> The woman caught in adultery… 

>> The man with a withered hand… 

>> The widow who offered a mite etc…
Is my Life like a Bruised Reed?

2. The Smouldering Wick: 

Jesus’ image here was based on wicks used in oil lamps. 
When the oil supply became less, the flame begins to flicker.
As the wick burned out, smoke was emitted that smelled bad…

… the normal tendency is the put off this smouldering wick…

>> But Jesus does not snuff them out!

Is my life like a Smouldering Wick? 
>> Saddened by trials and troubles, our flame of life flickers… 

>> Encountered by constant failures, our light of faith dies out… 

>> Blown by winds of catastrophes, our glow of hope fades away… 

>> Stumbled upon darkness of consolations, our flare of charity wanes away…
The world wants to snuff out these wicks. 

>> But Jesus intervenes to renew the fire and the blaze! 
The world feels it’s the end. 

>> But Jesus jumpstarts and rejuvenates our lives!
There are a lot of Smouldering Wicks in the Bible…

>> Peter…

>> Mathew… 

>> Bartimaeus… 

>> Mary Magdalene… 

>> The Crook on the Cross etc…
Is my life like a Smouldering Wick? 

Am I an Anawim…a NObody?…. 

>> God wants to make me a SOMEbody!

The Bible tells stories after stories about nobodies; about those who never do well! 

>> But God chose them.

God’s eyes search throughout the world, looking for ones whose stories ended before it began.

>> He looks for those who have no hope in this world…

…The Anawims

… The ones who are “bowed down”

…  The Bruised Reeds and the Smouldering Wicks

 
Let’s be prepared to Rise Up in Hope and to Burn On in Love! 

>> The Anawim are God’s Beloved!

Today is the Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel.
Let us seek the intercession of our Blessed Mother in our struggles and hardships of life. 
She is the model Anawim – She “bowed Her Head” in total submission to the Lord

>> She depended totally on the Will of God and faith

>> She was faithful to doing what God wanted in Her life

Mamma Mary, the bearer of the Divine Child… 

…is the Model of Total Trust in God 

…is the Emblem of Immense Enthusiasm in life 

…is the Image of Tenderness and Affection!
Let us hold Her Hands, as she inspires, helps, challenges and intercedes for us!

Happy Feast of our Blessed Mamma of Carmel!
God Bless! Live Jesus!
– Fr Jijo Manjackal MSFS

  Bengaluru, India