A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew (Mt 11:28-30)
Jesus said to the crowds: “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. 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.”
In speaking to the crowds, Jesus invites us to come to him to find comfort and rest. The invitation is also an example. When we see those who are burdened with many cares, Jesus shows us how to enact compassion by lightening their load. But there is a paradox here as well: “Take my yoke upon you.” No one with the intention of helping lighten a fellow human’s load would say, “Take on this additional burden.” Yet, that’s just what Jesus says. In taking on his yoke and burden, we find in the one who is fully human and fully divine humility of heart and supernatural rest from our labor.
God, my ways are not your ways. Just as you spoke to crowds, saying, “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me,” you say the same to me. Each person who hears these words hears you call them by name. You are the God who gives strength to the weary: “They that hope in the LORD,” Isaiah says, “will renew their strength, they will soar as with eagles’ wings; they will run and not grow weary, walk and not grow faint.” Lord, give me confidence that in coming to you and taking on your yoke and burden I will find inner peace and renewed strength and the grace to ease the burdens of those around me.
From the first reading: “The LORD is the eternal God, creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint nor grow weary, and his knowledge is beyond scrutiny. He gives strength to the fainting; for the weak he makes vigor abound.” Saint Lucy, pray for us!
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.