Meek And Humble

“Do you not know or have you not heard? The LORD is the eternal God, creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint nor grow weary, and his knowledge is beyond scrutiny. He gives strength to the fainting; for the weak he makes vigor abound. Though young men faint and grow weary, and youths stagger and fall, they that hope in the LORD will renew their strength; they will soar as with eagles' wings. They will run and not grow weary, walk and not grow faint” (Isaiah 40:25-31)

Our first reading reminds us that the LORD is with us, renews our strength so we won’t grow weary – that we will run, not walk.   We need this support (and speed) during our busy Advent season when we are overtaken by crowds (and traffic) vying for the bargains and finishing our Christmas shopping list.

However, our Gospel message is the one we need to hear and know.  It reads: “Jesus said to the crowds: ‘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.”  In other words, it’s time to slow down and not be caught up in Holiday madness as difficult as that might be.

Jesus is to give us rest; we are to learn from him and be meek and humble of heart.  In other words, we are to focus on the “reason for the season” – for his coming into our world and hearts that must be humble, not proud.  When we do this, our burdens becomes light, or at least a bit lighter, unlike for that donkey.

Deacon David Pierce