Matthew 11:28-30

Isaiah 40:25-31

Psalm 103:1-2, 3-4, 8 and 10

Matthew 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.”

Opening Prayer: Lord God, my deepest desire is to enter into your divine rest. I will work my entire life in your vineyard to enjoy the rest of the eternal Sabbath. Grant me true humility to know who I truly am. Help me to grow as your child and the servant of my brothers and sisters.

Encountering the Word of God

1. The Lord is the Eternal God: The Gospel was chosen to bring out what Isaiah proclaims about God: God gives strength to the fainting (Isaiah 40:29). Isaiah proclaims that God, our all-knowing Creator, is all-powerful. No creature is equal to God in holiness, knowledge, or power. Isaiah asks a series of rhetorical questions that aim to strengthen the faith of God’s people and dispel their doubts about God’s intention to save them (Ignatius Catholic Study Bible: Isaiah, 71). In its original context, Isaiah provides words of encouragement to the exiles. While the exiles of Israel and Judah might be tempted to think that God has forgotten them, the truth is that they have forgotten God. They are reassured by Isaiah that God will humble the proud and the strong – the Babylonians and powerful of the earth – and give strength to the humble and meek – his people

2. Go to Jesus: Advent is the season where we contemplate the first humble coming (advent) of Jesus and prepare for his second glorious coming (advent). And yet, as we await Jesus’ second coming, today’s Gospel invites us to go to Jesus. Jesus himself invites us with the words, “Come to me!” We don’t normally associate waiting for someone with traveling towards them. And yet this is an Advent image: longing to encounter the person we are journeying towards. At the same time, Jesus is with us and gives us rest along the way. The paradoxes continue: we are to shoulder the yoke, and somehow, this image of undertaking heavy work leads to rest. Unlike the yoke of the Pharisees, which burdens the people and blocks the way to heaven, the yoke of Jesus is light and leads gently to eternal life.

3. Divine Paradoxes: The Christian life is full of paradoxes. We are journeying toward Jesus, and yet he is with us. We are waiting for Jesus’ second advent, and yet we are pilgrims walking in exile towards him. We are working hard in God’s field and yet at rest. If we humble ourselves, we will be exalted. If we lose our lives, we will find it. If we die to ourselves, we will live. We will be happy if we mourn. We will be rich if we are poor. We will store up treasure if we give it to the poor. If we run toward God, we will not grow weary (Isaiah 40:31). When I am weak, then I am strong (2 Corinthians 12:10).

Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, do not let me be overwhelmed by your paradoxical teachings. I trust in you. I know that I have to die to myself so that you can live in me fully. I will strive to imitate your life so that I can share more fully in your life.

Living the Word of God: How am I living the paradoxes of the Christian life? Do I trust in the Word of God that the path to the joy of heavenly life is one of detachment from the pleasures of earthly life?