July 9, 2023: Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Gospel: Matthew 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.

“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.”

Reflection

When reading this Gospel, one word came to me very clearly: Trust. I find this to be a lovely and hopeful Gospel. We are to be simple of heart, not getting tied up in the intellectual knowing of Christ and the message, but trusting in God’s gracious will for us.

At times, I have found myself fretting over whether or not I “get it.” Reading this Gospel is like hearing Jesus tell me to calm down! There is a difference between intellectual knowing and “heart” knowing.

Can we be too much in our heads when we seek God’s truth? Jesus tell us that we should simply be open and trusting, as children are, to whatever means we are given to understand. And we are assured that this knowledge will not be burdensome.

Action

Can we lighten someone’s burden with an act of kindness or by praying for them this week? Let us trust that we will be provided with what we need to do God’s work this week.