JESUS MODEL: LEARN FROM ME
Introduction
Isaiah voices a prayer of longing for God, asks for peace and hopes for a rebirth for his people. It represents the prayer of the just among his people. Our selection skips the parts referring to the fate of the unjust.
The weak and the poor are open to the love of Jesus, for they are aware that they are fragile and vulnerable. He will give them rest and make them aware that what Jesus asks of them is a light burden, for it is carried in love. They will find rest in him.
1 Reading Isaiah 26:7-9, 12, 16-19
The way of the just is smooth;
the path of the just you make level.
Yes, for your way and your judgments, O LORD,
we look to you;
Your name and your title
are the desire of our souls.
My soul yearns for you in the night,
yes, my spirit within me keeps vigil for you;
When your judgment dawns upon the earth,
the world’s inhabitants learn justice.
O LORD, you mete out peace to us,
for it is you who have accomplished all we have done.
O LORD, oppressed by your punishment,
we cried out in anguish under your chastising.
As a woman about to give birth
writhes and cries out in her pains,
so were we in your presence, O LORD.
We conceived and writhed in pain,
giving birth to wind;
Salvation we have not achieved for the earth,
the inhabitants of the world cannot bring it forth.
But your dead shall live, their corpses shall rise;
awake and sing, you who lie in the dust.
For your dew is a dew of light,
and the land of shades gives birth.
Responsorial Psalm 102:13-14b and 15, 16-18, 19-21
R. (20b) From heaven the Lord looks down on the earth.
You, O LORD, abide forever,
and your name through all generations.
You will arise and have mercy on Zion,
for it is time to pity her.
For her stones are dear to your servants,
and her dust moves them to pity.
R. From heaven the Lord looks down on the earth.
The nations shall revere your name, O LORD,
and all the kings of the earth your glory,
When the LORD has rebuilt Zion
and appeared in his glory;
When he has regarded the prayer of the destitute,
and not despised their prayer.
R. From heaven the Lord looks down on the earth.
Let this be written for the generation to come,
and let his future creatures praise the LORD:
“The LORD looked down from his holy height,
from heaven he beheld the earth,
To hear the groaning of the prisoners,
to release those doomed to die.”
R. From heaven the Lord looks down on the earth.
Alleluia Matthew 11:28
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Come to me, all you who labour and are burdened,
and I will give you rest, says the Lord.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel Matthew 11:28-30
Jesus said:
“Come to me, all you who labour 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.”
Commentary:
Recently, I visited a friend of mine. His two little daughters began quizzing me on the Bible. We explored each other’s familiarity with the story of Jesus, and at one point I asked them: “What was written on the cross on which Jesus died?” The younger one blurted out: “R.I.P.” (Rest in Peace). We laughed our hearts out.
But coming to think of it in the context of today’s reading, wasn’t she revealing the hidden writing on the cross? On his cross, in perfect obedience to his Father, Christ rested in peace. We too, while carrying our daily burdens, can lean on God and give rest to our souls. YHWH invited the Hebrews to do so. And Jesus invites us to do so as well: “Come to me . . . take my yoke upon you . . . you will find rest.” God is a resting place for us. His yoke is good and his burden is light. Let us lean on him and RIP.
Blessing
Let our Christian living be a hymn of gratitude to God’s initiative of love and to Jesus’ continual care. May the God of love bless you all, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!