Sunday 5th July 14th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Gospel – Matthew 11:25-30
At that time Jesus said, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and the intelligent and have revealed them to infants; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will.
All things have been handed over to me by my Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 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. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
The Gospel of the Lord
The Mass intention is for Jean Brady RIP
Reflection:
My friends in today’s Gospel from Saint Matthew, Jesus’ gives three invitations. The first of these invitations is ‘Come to me, all you who labour and are overburdened, and I will give you rest’! These invitations are directed towards all of us who find our faith a heavy burden! Jesus does not want our following of him to be a burden but one of JOY!
Following Jesus and carrying our cross, with him is a JOY because Jesus took our sins upon himself to free us from slavery. We can continually come to Jesus and seek his mercy and forgiveness and discover deep within us the ocean of his eternal mercy!
Living in the presence of Jesus does not weigh anyone down. On the contrary, Jesus frees us and liberates so that we can Shoulder his yoke; it is easy, and his burden is light. Why? Because Jesus frees us from fear and pressure and sets us free and wakens deep within us a trust that only he can give. And therefore draws us to his unconditional love, a love that only he can give.
We need to learn from Jesus how to live like him. Jesus has never been one to complicate things but to try and help us to open our eyes to the mystery of his love for each of us at all costs.
Jesus tells us to learn from him, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Jesus will never ask us to do what he has not done. That’s why he can fully understand our difficulties and struggles, we need to trust, and believe in the mystery of his unwavering love.
Our faith tells us that we should see ourselves as more than our work and troubles. It has to be a means to helping us to understand mystery of Jesus’ divine love and its through this divine love that he can lighten our burdens!
- What changes can you make in your life to lighten your burdens?
- When have you found rest for your soul in Jesus?
Fr John