A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew
At that time Jesus exclaimed: “I give praise to you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to little ones. . . . Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest.”
Today’s Gospel describes obedience to Christ as gentle mastery. God the Father reveals himself not to the wise and the learned, the scribes and the Pharisees, but to the childlike in faith. The rest Jesus offers to those who labor and are burdened does not take away work but offers respite from arrogance and self-reliance. “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me,” Jesus says, “for I am meek and humble of heart.”
God, help me see today when overreliance on myself and my aims drives me away from you. Break through to me when self-reliance inhibits my ability to hear and obey your will. Jesus says, “No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him.” Help me be open to knowing you through the revelation of your Son.
“God is love,” says Saint John, “and whoever remains in love remains in God and God in him.” Lord, give me the grace today to remain in you.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.