Meek and Lowly Pt-3

Then some began to spit on Him, and to blindfold Him, and to beat Him, and to say to Him, “Prophecy!” And the officers struck Him with the palms of their hands. Mk:14:65

Though the people insulted JESUS, beat him and he was humiliated like no other human ever had experienced before, yet HE never opened HIS mouth. The very Source of life, whose breath was in the people accusing HIM, HIS very creation, HE kept quiet. HE never defended HIMSELF. In fact, if you read in Revelation it says,

From his mouth came a sharp sword to strike down the nations. He will rule them with an iron rod. He will release the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty, like juice flowing from a winepress. Rev:19:15

He is an all-powerful GOD through whom everything was created that ever existed. What humility, what an example of meekness, that’s the very reason HE invites us to learn it from HIM.

²⁸ “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. ²⁹ Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰ For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Mt:11:28-30

I was reminded of the below story which I had read while in college years ago and its a great lesson of how you can learn from JESUS. And when you encounter this humility, it will forever change your life.

St. Francis of Assisi’s ministry begins with this incident, which changed his life completely. GOD changed a rich young man who hated lepers into a meek and humble man whose life drastically

Like most of his contemporaries, Francis felt disdain for lepers and avoided them at all costs. One day, before his conversion, Francis was riding his horse alone in the countryside. As he moved along the road, he caught sight of a leper walking toward him. Francis’ instinct was to turn back or move off to the side to avoid contact with the poor wretch. But Francis instead rode directly toward this man with parts of his face and hands eaten away by this dreaded disease.

Francis dismounted his horse and warmly embraced and kissed the leper tenderly. In his Testament, Francis writes, “When I was in sin, the sight of lepers nauseated me beyond measure; but then God himself led me into their company, and I had pity on them. When I had once become acquainted with them, what had previously nauseated me became a source of physical consolation for me. After that, I did not wait long before leaving the world.” Francis eventually came to realize that he had actually embraced none other than his Lord, Jesus Christ.

Francis soon found himself living with lepers and caring for them. His meeting and embracing the leper was the best preparation Francis could have had for the founding of a new order in the Church, whose highest ideal was to serve the poorest of the poor.

Let us pause and take a moment to just meditate on JESUS’s humility and try our best to follow HIS example by not condemning others, loving those who hate us, doing good to our enemies, making room for mistakes and not judging others.

43“You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbour and hate your enemy. 44But I say, love your enemies!^s Pray for those who persecute you! 45In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike. 46If you love only those who love you, what reward is there for that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much. 47If you are kind only to your friends,^t how are you different from anyone else? Even pagans do that.48But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect. Mt:5:43-48

GOD bless you!!!