Our Lady Of Perpetual Help

Clergy Page

Reflection - Week of July 5

Question of the Week:

Do I consider myself meek? How can I be less resentful and more peaceful and patient with family, friends, and colleagues?

     Recall that in his first sermon—the Sermon on the Mount—Jesus declared that the meek were blessed and that they would inherit the land. The land was thought of as a divine gift and symbolic of God’s covenant with the Chosen People, going back to Abraham, Sarah, and Isaac. In other words, claim to the land was never given to conquering heroes or occupying armies; God gave it to those who are meek: people who offer peace and refuse to respond with violence, people who endure hardship with patience and acceptance if they must, people who accept whatever they have without resentment. Now Jesus tells the crowds that he himself is meek. Therefore, he is a model for those who are blessed and who will inherit the land. This symbol of the original covenant is renewed in Jesus, who is the new covenant, in which we all have a share. Let us learn from him, as Jesus says, and be meek as he was meek and inherit the promise of the new covenant, which we celebrate today and in every Eucharist.

     Note that Jesus does not say he will relieve us from a yoke entirely. But he assures us that his yoke is easy and his burden light. However, we know now what neither the crowds nor the disciples realized at the time: that Jesus’ own yoke is uniquely difficult, for he would soon have to suffer and die to redeem us from our sins. We too will die one day, perhaps suffering a lot during our final weeks, months, or years. But we will not suffer and die alone. Jesus is yoked to us, easing our burden, even as we suffer and die.