First Reading: Isaiah 40:25-31
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 103
Gospel: Matthew 11:28-30
Have you ever had a demanding job or a demanding teacher? Did the work that you were given just seem so unbearable, and not realistic? Many of us grow weary from things in our lives, or feel burdened from demanding situations. The people of Jesus' time felt this exact way in their faith lives. The scribes and pharisees seemed to put a lot of demands on the people, and the people were instructed to always observe every part of the law.
When Jesus came to earth and began His public ministry, He knew how the people were burdened and how they grew weak from the religious laws set by the scribes and pharisees of the time. That is why in today's gospel, He tells the people to come to Him, "all those who labor and are burdened." He tells them (and us) to come to His yoke, for it is easy and His burden light. Christ invites the burdened to take rest in Him and to not be bogged down by the strict yoke of the law, but rather take the yoke of obedience to His word. Let us thank God that today, we are not bogged down by many religious laws that are unrealistic for us to carry out and that we are given many leaders in the church today who practice what they preach. Christ came to preach to us with a simple message, and that the most important law that we should follow is to love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength; and to love our neighbor as our self.
Today, let us all reflect on the words of the prophet Isaiah from today's first reading: "They that hope in the LORD will renew their strength, they will soar as with eagles’ wings; They will run and not grow weary, walk and not grow faint."
Father above, we thank you for the gift of this day. Lord, thank you for your love and mercy and for calling each of us to you. Lord, we know that there is nothing that you cannot do, and that nothing is impossible for you. Lord, thank you for giving us rest from the labors and burdens of this world. Lord, help us to come to you when we are weak and burdened and to rely on your strength and not that of ourselves. Lord, we pray for all those who do not know your love and who are searching for meaning in their lives. We ask this all through Christ our Lord. Amen.
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