Echoing God’s Goodness
Roald Dahl’s 1988 novel Matilda, beloved by generations and adapted for both stage and screen, tells the story of a young girl with extraordinary gifts — not just intellect, but also a resilient spirit and a deep sense of justice. Despite being surrounded by cruel and neglectful adults, Matilda stands up for what’s right. She exposes her father’s dishonesty, resists the tyranny of her headmistress, and uses her cleverness to protect others rather than seek vengeance. A community-theater director in Minnesota once reflected on the musical adaptation, writing in the playbill, “Her story reminds us that strength isn’t always loud, and power doesn’t always look like we expect.”
That observation rings true well beyond the theater stage — especially when we look at the life of Jesus. The Messiah didn’t arrive with political might, military force, or displays of dominance. Instead, Jesus embodied a different kind of strength: gentle, healing, self-giving. He welcomed children, lifted up the poor, touched the untouchable, and spoke truth to power without cruelty or pride. When betrayed and beaten, He responded not with retaliation but with mercy. Hanging on the cross, Jesus didn’t curse His enemies — He forgave them. This is divine power: not crushing enemies, but breaking the cycle of violence with love.
In Matilda, we see a glimpse — a small echo — of that redemptive love. Though she is wronged, Matilda chooses to help, not hurt. She uses her power to lift others up, not to settle scores. Her story, while fictional, reminds us of a deeper truth: real strength is found in compassion. Real power is revealed in humility and in choosing what is right, even when it’s difficult.
Of course, even the most courageous human — no matter how gifted — can only go so far. That’s why the hope of the gospel is so much more than human effort. Jesus went farther than any of us could: through death and into resurrection, breaking the power of sin and death forever. And yet, in our daily lives — in art, literature, and the witness of kindhearted neighbors — we can catch echoes of that divine goodness.
As people of faith, we follow Jesus, our Savior and source of true power. But like Matilda, we are invited to use our voices, our wit, our creativity, and our kindness to challenge injustice and bring healing to the world around us. Let us, then, work boldly and tenderly, trusting in the One who showed us what real strength looks like.
