A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew (Mt 11:25-30)
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. Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father. 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.”
In today’s second reading from Saint Paul, he compares the Spirit and the flesh. Living according to the flesh leads to death, while if living by the Spirit, “you put to death the deeds of the body” and you will live. In the Gospel, Jesus exclaims in praise the same message through his relationship to the Father. The little ones Jesus speaks of have a childlike faith that acknowledges what it means to live in the Spirit; namely, “No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son.” No one knows the Father as Jesus, meek and humble of heart, knows the Father.
God, as the psalmist says, you lift up all who are falling and raise up all who are bowed down. Help me remember to come to you when I feel burdened and heavy with the cares of this world. In receiving the Eucharist, the body and blood of Christ, I want to live courageously in the Spirit, putting to death the deeds of the body. “Learn from me,” Jesus says. Help me take on the humility and meekness of Christ, who lived every moment of his life in your gracious will. Taking on that yoke, uniting myself to him, help me learn to find rest in assimilating myself to him.
“I will praise your name for ever, my king and my God.” Lord, through your Spirit that dwells in me, reveal to me through your Son what you hide from the wise and the learned.
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.