An Advent homily on Matthew 11: 28- 30 inviting us to learn humility, gentleness, and love from Jesus, whose greatest humility is in the Eucharist. (10-12-25)
Praise be to Jesus Christ
A family of crabs lived near a quiet beach. Each morning the mother crab told her young ones, today, you must learn to walk straight. Lift your legs and move forward like other creatures. The little crabs listened and tried sincerely, but after a few steps they slipped back into their sideways walk. Tired and confused they said, Mother, we want to walk straight, but we fail. Please show us how. The mother lifted her legs and tried, but she also walked sideways. An old crab watching them said quietly, “You cannot lead others on a path you have never walked yourself. ”
This story reflects our own lives. Many of us try to teach others: parents to children, children to parents, teachers to students, priests and religious to their communities. We tell others to be patient, to pray, to love humbly. Yet our own steps often do not match our advice. Like the mother crab, we cannot lead others on a path we have not truly walked ourselves.
This is why today’s Gospel is so powerful. Jesus says, Learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart. He insists that we learn from Him, because He alone has walked the path of true humility and gentleness. He does not ask us to do anything He has not lived Himself. He is the perfect teacher, and only in Him can we find a model for life.
Isaiah, in today’s reading, reminds us that God never grows tired and lifts up the weak. Those who hope in Him will rise on wings like eagles. The mighty God of Isaiah comes gently in the person of Jesus. He bends low to lift us up, to teach us by example, and to carry our burdens.
Christmas shows this most clearly. The Son of God comes not as a king in a palace, but as a small child in a manger. He comes with the humility of a newborn, dependent on His mother, cared for by Joseph. He comes to the lowest places so that no one feels too small to reach Him. This is the gentle and lowly heart He invites us to learn from. And His humility reaches its highest point in the Eucharist. The same Lord of heaven and earth becomes simple bread, hidden, small, and silent, offering Himself to us completely. In every Mass He says again, Learn from me. Learn my gentleness. Learn my humility. Learn to carry others with love and patience.
In our families, communities, and daily life, we are called to follow this lesson. Parents can reflect patience, children can grow in humility, husbands and wives can speak with gentleness. Only when we learn from Jesus do our words and actions carry life, peace, and love.So, during this Advent season, let us open our hearts to Jesus. Let us learn from Him: His gentle heart, His lowly heart, His humble and loving heart in the manger and in the Eucharist. Let us walk with Him, let us carry His heart into our homes, and let this Christmas be real in our families and in our lives.
Lord Jesus, teach me to learn from you. Amen.
⇒If you find this reflection meaningful and fruitful, please share it with others
The Team Search offers retreats, reflections, and classes for religious and others on various biblical themes, the Eucharist, prayer, spiritual direction, Missiology, English phonetics (basic & advanced), Mariology, the Sacraments, the Desert Fathers, and more. We are happy to assist you if you find it hard to get a resource person for any Christian topic.
♦Contact: thesearch1994@gmail.com
God Bless…
Wonderful reflection. Thank you Father
Rev, Fr pray for me to be Humble,, 🙏 Nirmal Mary SAB,