Scripture Reflection

There may be no more comforting words of Jesus that those in today's Gospel. "Come to me all who labor and are heavy burdened and I will give you rest." This is an invitation from the Lord himself to rest our head on his chest, to draw close to his loving heart poured open for us who so often find the weight of our daily crosses all too difficult to bear. We hear those words, we read them, but do we take them to heart? Is our first response in time of difficulty or distress to fall to our knees in humility and prayer, seeking God's tender mercy and his saving help? Or do we all too often first rely on our own devices or withdraw in despair and desolation?

Jesus goes on to assure his disciples that "my yoke is easy, and my burden light." We might think of a yoke as a burden or a hardship but farmers know that the yoke is made uniquely to fit on a particular animal – so it rests on his neck and makes his work easier. A well fitted yoke is a blessing for the beast of labor. Jesus gives us a shared yoke – a double yoke – we are never alone in our journey. God walks with us. We are joined to the Church – the Body of Christ. And we are in companionship with others around us. The challenge is to see in those around us a source of company, conversation, partnership, and friendship for the journey. Time is needed to develop the joys of friendship – for with one another we will journey to God. Perhaps these summer months offer to us a real opportunity to deepen those life-giving bonds of love and friendship with our spouse, our children, our parents, family and friends, as well as with the Lord Jesus himself.

St. John in our second reading says it best: Beloved, let us truly love another because God is love. Whoever does not love, does not know God and cannot belong to God. This is challenge for us. Love does not allow us to have hearts filled with anger, with hostility, with the inability to forgive, with quick judgement of others, with pride and selfish behavior. Love is never rude or jealous, it does not envy, it is not greedy or lustful. Our faith in the Church calls us to be true disciples of Jesus Christ. It is by our love that we will be known and through our love that we will be able to give true witness to the name of Jesus Christ our Savior.

"Come to me all you who are burdened – I will give rest. Take my yoke upon your shoulders." We have been given an invitation from Jesus himself to open our hearts to divine grace, and the comfort of friendship with him and others. May we respond to that invitation with eagerness and joy!