Humility and Trust

A politician running for office, in his attempt to elicit a vote from a neighbor lady, listed his promises of reform if he were to be elected. “You are certainly my second choice among the candidates,” she said. Accepting the lukewarm compliment, the candidate asked whom her first choice was. “Anyone else who is running,” she smirked.

We can safely trust in a person’s promises only if we thoroughly trust that person. Every good Christian claims to trust Jesus as Lord and Savior, but many have given little thought to one of his most awesome promises--the one found in Matthew 1:29 (emphasis mine): “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.” What is the connection between taking up a yoke and the promise of rest for one’s soul?

“Taking up a yoke” implies a deliberate act of submission. This act enables one to “learn” Jesus’ ability to be submissively humble of heart--interiorly, not just exteriorly—an action that provides soul rest, or inner peace, in not having to project or defend one’s ego. This enigmatic statement from Jesus was a paraphrase of a teaching on receiving divine wisdom, from Sirach 6:28-30--an Old Testament deuterocanonical book: “You will find the rest she gives . . . a joy for you . . . her yoke is a golden ornament” (vv. 28–30, emphasis mine).

When our God-given talents are humbly employed solely for his glory, not ours, then we can trust him to use our few loaves and fish to produce an awesome and divinely disproportionate effect in our own lives and also in others.

Trust implies the certainty that all of our talents and abilities are self-exercised but not self-engendered; they all come ultimately from the beneficent hand of God. “What do you have that you did not receive? And if you received it, why do you boast as if it were not a gift?” (1 Cor 4:7). Mary said it well: “The Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name” (Lk 1:49). The double trust factor in being humble of heart is total reliance on God for his gifts, and on the assurance that they will be used for his glory, not ours.

A paradox in trusting souls who have learned to be humble of heart is the realization that the more we do for God and his people, the more we owe him for the great privilege of serving and glorifying him by our labor of love.

This excerpt is from the book Pathways of Trust, by John H. Hampsch,C.M.F., originally published by Servant Publications. It and other of Fr. Hampsch's books and tapes can be purchased This excerpt is from the book Pathways of Trust, by John H. Hampsch,C.M.F., originally published by Servant Publications. It and other of Fr. Hampsch's books and audio/visual materials can be purchased from Claretian Teaching Ministry, 20610 Manhattan Pl, #120, Torrance, CA 90501-1863. Phone 1-310-782-6408.