Matthew 11:28-30

Isaiah 26:7-9, 12, 16-19

Psalm 102:13-14ab and 15, 16-18, 19-21

Matthew 11:28-30

Jesus said:

“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.”

Opening Prayer: Lord God, I want to shoulder the yoke today with your Son at my side. I need to learn from him and be transformed in the depths of my heart. Do not let my pride and vanity rear their ugly head. I want to be gentle and meek of heart. I want true humility and to enjoy the peaceful rest of eternal life.

Encountering the Word of God

1. The Message of Isaiah 13-25: Several chapters in the Book of Isaiah are oracles against foreign nations (Isaiah 13:1-23:18). These include prophesies and oracles against Babylon, Assyria, Philistia, Moab, Damascus, Ethiopia, Egypt, Cush, and Tyre. These nations have exalted themselves in the face of the Lord and, due to their pride and arrogance, they will be brought down. These prophecies and oracles prepare God’s judgment of the whole world in Isaiah 24. The prospect is bleak for those who have transgressed God’s law, violated God’s statutes, and broken God’s covenant (Isaiah 25:5). The kings of the earth, Isaiah says, will be gathered into a pit and punished. The Lord of hosts will reign on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem and will manifest his glory (Isaiah 24:21-23). Mount Zion is where God will set a feast for all peoples a feast and offer choice wine. Death will be swallowed up forever, every tear will be wiped away and the reproach of God's people will be taken away. The people will say: “This is the Lord; we have waited for him; let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation” (Isaiah 24:6-9). On that day, the people will sing praises to God.

2. The Song of Praise: Our First Reading today is taken from that song of praise. The song praises God for protecting his people and leading the just along level paths. The people long for the Lord and seek him; they cry out to him. The Lord hears the cry of his people and delivers them. The Lord will give life to those who have died; their bodies will rise. Salvation does not come from the world but from God. Deliverance from evil and the gift of divine life are also present in today’s Gospel. Jesus knows that we are burdened by sin and that we labor and struggle as we make our way to the Lord God. Just as Israel and Judah cried out to God and sought him, we too cry out to God and seek him.

3. The Good King: Jesus is unlike the wicked kings of Israel and Judah. The wicked kings exploited their subjects and took from them. Jesus, by contrast, is a good king and a good shepherd. He doesn’t take and exploit. He gives generously and raises people up. On the one hand, Jesus gives good things that give life and nourishment, things like the cleansing waters of Baptism, the eucharistic Bread of Life, and the Blood of Salvation, the healing mercy of Reconciliation, and the power of the Spirit. On the other, Jesus also gives us our Cross and our yoke. The yoke of Christ is the Cross, an instrument of humiliation and an instrument of salvation. When we shoulder our daily cross, we learn the way of humility. We fall several times along the way, and each time we are able to get back up if we grasp the merciful hand of God. When we shoulder our daily cross, we learn the way of salvation. We understand the hideousness of sin and the power of grace. We see that sin only enslaves and that grace makes us free. Sin shackles us down and makes us stumble; life in Christ draws us along smooth paths to the Father.

Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, I contemplate you each day and see that you truly are meek and humble of heart. Meekness is not weakness. Humility is not false self-deprecation. Meekness is the gentleness of one who loves. Humility is about living the truth of who we are – creatures who have been redeemed and are sanctified, servants who lay down their lives for others. May I truly be meek and humble of heart as you are.

Living the Word of God: Do I know how I can grow in meekness and humility? What is God the Father asking me to do to transform my heart into the heart of his Son?