I am a weak person.

My life has been, for the most part, comfortable, so I often lack the ability to stand up for myself. I’m thin with few muscles worth mentioning. My voice does not demand attention on its own. I cry once a week. I tend to lack self-confidence.

In other words, I am a weak person.

The season of Advent for weaklings like me, however, shines as a glimmer of hope. Today’s readings remind me of this fact: in the history of salvation, God uses the weak to lead the strong. For some reason, the Almighty God of the Universe likes to manifest Himself through people like me.

He raises disgraced, barren mothers to become mothers of the greatest prophets. He raises self-conscious men to bear His message. He raises a poor shepherd boy to become the greatest king in a nation’s history. He raises a disgraced, unwed teenager to become the mother of God Incarnate.

And for some reason, God wants to be among the weak. He humbles Himself to become a baby lying in a feeding trough. He humbles Himself to touch the skin of the untouchables. He humbles Himself to love the disgraced adulteresses, thieving tax collectors, even the man whom He knows will betray Him. He even humbles Himself to die the worst death He possibly could as a despised, forsaken criminal.

Why does God choose the weak?

I will not presume to say I know the answer to such a question of Providence. But I will say that for a person like me, all this proves that God is love. It is so easy to “love” a strong person. But to love someone with weaknesses, faults, whom few others like-that takes real love.

God’s preference for the weak also manifests His omnipotence. From this history of weaklings, God has brought salvation. From the lowest of the low, God has brought the greatest of all victories.

In short, our learning the history of God’s work among us tells us His message: I love you, no matter what. You have nothing at all to fear. Stay close to me; whatever you lack, I will fill.

I hope I learn this lesson.

For you are my hope, O LORD;
my trust, O God, from my youth.
On you I depend from birth;
from my mother’s womb you are my strength.

Psalm 71:5-6ab