The Light Burden of Being Meek and Humble

by Honesto Geronimo

“Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves. For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.” Mt 11:25-30

14^th Ordinary Sunday Cycle A

There was once a politician imprisoned by his opponent in power. He was put in a small dark box where he could hardly move. He was given water and crackers once a day. He was treated like this to break his spirit. But instead he became stronger and in fact survived. He only got out when he had to be treated for his heart in another country. The prisoner lasted in prison because all the while he prayed. That was his secret. He was a man of the spirit. As St. Paul tells the Romans, the man who lives by the spirit survives while the man who lives by the flesh soon dies. Rom 8:9, 11-13.

The man of the spirit is also meek and humble, contrary to the one living in flesh who is proud. This is the way the prophet Zechariah describes the Messiah. “See, your king shall come to you; a just savior is he, meek, and riding on the foal of a donkey” Zec 9:9-10. Surprisingly that is how the Messiah dominates all nations spreading peace everywhere by being meek and humble.

In Israel when a king comes to battle, he rides a horse. However when he comes in peace, he rides a donkey just as Jesus did when He entered Jerusalem for the last time before He died on the cross to save mankind. Jesus was meek and humble and yet His humility and meekness has conquered Satan and death itself.

Thus understandably Jesus invites us to learn from Him. He does not excuse us from carrying the burdens of life. He asks us to switch our load with His own because by bearing His burden which is light we shall find rest.

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