Historically kings placed burdens on the people: taxes, land grabs, forced to fight battles, forced labor on the king’s property, forced to give their daughters and sons into the king’s service. The first reading pictures a different kind a king. A king who is humble and meek. A king who is not about making war and increasing his wealth but who banishes war and forcing the people to fight his battles.
Paul reminds us that we are called to go beyond the world’s expectations of behavior, just as the king in the first reading goes beyond the normal kings of the world. We are called to live by the Spirit of God rather than the flesh of men.
Jesus tells his disciples, “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.” Anyone who as seen a real yoke knows they are heavy and designed for beasts of burden who are forced to work hard to plow and do other shores. Jesus, like the king in the first reading, is a meek king who is concerned about his people. He lightens their load rather than increases it. Do we follow his example of helping people out of generosity and strive to make their loads easier?
Countenance of God 