Sunday, July 5, is the 14th Sunday in Ordinary Time. Mass readings: Zechariah 9:9-10; Psalm 145:1-2, 8-9, 10-11, 13-14; Romans 8:9, 11-13; Matthew 11:25-30.

Jesus doesn’t promise us a life free of trouble, but, with him, we can grow in freedom and peace — and rest. 

“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.’” 

Jesus commends to us a childlike simplicity before our Heavenly Father. The wise, learned and clever often miss what God is trying to do and say. Jesus teaches us that the first step to lessening our burdens is to cultivate a wonder and awe at all that God has done — and an instinct to run to our Abba. 

Jesus also says, “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest … for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves.” Jesus commends to us characteristics of himself: being “meek and humble of heart” — dependent upon God — and having an eternal outlook, which will relieve many of our anxieties.

“Take my yoke upon you … for my yoke is easy, and my burden light.” A yoke is a wooden truss that makes it easier to carry a heavy load by distributing weight along a wider part of the body — think of oxen or other working animals. Why is Jesus saying this to us? He knows what we can bear and what we are ready for. The problem comes when we put things upon our shoulders that God never put there. We may undertake projects, launch careers, accept promotions and even enter marriages without discerning if that’s what God wants for us. Consequently, our life becomes complicated and burdensome, for it is not the “my yoke” to which Jesus referred; i.e., Christ didn’t make it. 

By taking only his yoke, our burdens will be lighter, and we will have Christ-centered rest.

This post was adapted from a past guide.