The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today remind us of the human folly of reluctance to seek help, especially for our spiritual needs.
The Reading from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah proclaims the Promise of Salvation.
* [40:1–55:13] Chapters 40–55 are usually designated Second Isaiah (or Deutero-Isaiah) and are believed to have been written by an anonymous prophet toward the end of the Babylonian exile…
* [40:26] Created: see note on Gn 1:1–2:3. By name: for he is their Creator.
* [40:27–28] The exiles, here called Jacob-Israel (Gn 32:29), must not give way to discouragement: their Lord is the eternal God. (“Isaiah, CHAPTER 40 | USCCB,” n.d.)
Psalm 103 praises God for personal benefits and mercy toward all the people.
* [Psalm 103] The speaker in this hymn begins by praising God for personal benefits (Ps 103:1–5), then moves on to God’s mercy toward all the people (Ps 103:6–18). Even sin cannot destroy that mercy (Ps 103:11–13), for the eternal God is well aware of the people’s human fragility (Ps 103:14–18). The psalmist invites the heavenly beings to join in praise (Ps 103:19–22). (“Psalms, PSALM 103 | USCCB,” n.d.)
The Gospel of Matthew proclaims The Gentle Mastery of Christ.
* [11:28–29] These verses are peculiar to Matthew and are similar to Ben Sirach’s invitation to learn wisdom and submit to her yoke (Sir 51:23, 26).
* [11:28] Who labor and are burdened: burdened by the law as expounded by the scribes and Pharisees (Mt 23:4).
* [11:29] In place of the yoke of the law, complicated by scribal interpretation, Jesus invites the burdened to take the yoke of obedience to his word, under which they will find rest; cf. Jer 6:16. (“Matthew, CHAPTER 11 | USCCB,” n.d.)
Mary Lee Brock shares about being inspired by Jesus to turn my back on the hubris of taking on all the responsibility for the agency and choosing instead to become meek and humble of heart, I found the strength to be a true peacemaker for people grappling with conflict. But how is it that such a life-changing lesson can be forgotten?
There have been many times when I have felt I was carrying a burden alone before remembering God is with me. The reading from Isaiah reminds us: They that hope in the LORD will renew their strength, they will soar as with eagles’ wings; They will run and not grow weary, walk and not grow faint. This brings me hope when I feel exhausted and overwhelmed by devastating local, national, and world events. God is asking us to truly live our faith. To take action when possible. To listen to learn. To advocate for those who need support. With God, we will have renewed strength to meet life’s challenges.
When we are feeling alone or exhausted or demoralized or angry or shame, we can find comfort in the image of God in today’s Psalm. He pardons all your iniquities; He heals all your ills. He redeems your life from destruction; He crowns you with kindness and compassion. What a beautiful promise!
In this season of Advent, I reflect on these questions: How can I help someone know they are not alone? What will help me remember that God will renew my strength? Where can I take action to make a difference, knowing that I am not carrying the burden alone?
And today I pray for the grace to appreciate God in the small, quiet moments of my life.
Merciful and gracious is the LORD, slow to anger and abounding in kindness. (Brock, n.d.)
Don Schwager quotes “Grace bear us,” by an anonymous early author from the Greek church.
"'My yoke is easy and my burden light.' ... The prophet says this about the burden of sinners: 'Because my iniquities lie on top of my head, so they have also placed a heavy burden on me' (Psalm 38:4)' ...'Place my yoke upon you, and learn from me that I am gentle and humble of heart.' Oh, what a very pleasing weight that strengthens even more those who carry it! For the weight of earthly masters gradually destroys the strength of their servants, but the weight of Christ rather helps the one who bears it, because we do not bear grace; grace bears us. It is not for us to help grace, but rather grace has been given to aid us.' (excerpt from INCOMPLETE WORK ON MATTHEW, HOMILY, the Greek fathers). (Schwager, n.d.)
The Word Among Us Meditation on Matthew 11:28-30 comments that as we walk beside Jesus, we are learning from him (Matthew 11:29). Since he is right next to us, we can enter into his relationship with his Father. We can take on his way of thinking, and we can begin to look at the people around us through his eyes. We can learn how to walk as he walks, in mercy and justice and compassion. This is how we fulfill the Law: we come to Jesus and listen, we come to him and learn, and we come and walk beside our perfect Teacher.
What burdens are you carrying today? Whatever they are, come to Jesus and take up his yoke. Let go of perfectionism or self-sufficiency. Let go of feelings of shame for not measuring up. Jesus is calling you to walk beside him, yoked to him. He is calling you to stay close to him and learn from him, to grow in likeness to him. As you draw close to his meek and humble heart, you will find that his “yoke is easy, and [his] burden light” (Matthew 11:30).
“Jesus, I am overjoyed to be yoked to you. Thank you for loving me, guiding me, and walking every step with me.” (“Meditation on Matthew 11:28-30,” 2025)
Friar Jude Winkler comments that the Book of Isaiah continues a strength message in the Babylonian exile when the people wondered if God was weaker than the Babylonian god Marduk. God created all things and strengthened them to soar on eagle’s wings. In Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus invites “Come all who are burdened”, to accept the custom carved yoke for two that is made for Jesus to carry with us and avoid crooked farrows with a lighter burden. Jesus wants our involvement in the work of salvation as collaborators with God. Friar Jude invites us to carry our share of the load.
Fr. Mike Schmitz reflects on the thorn in Paul's side, a weakness that he struggled with and begged God to take away. Fr. Mike invites us to reflect on our own thorn that God doesn't seem to take away, and to remember that God's grace is sufficient for us. Today's readings are Acts 23, 2 Corinthians 12-13, and Proverbs 29:8-11.
Father Richard Rohr, OFM, comments that John of the Cross describes the doubt that disrupts a soul in the dark night, when all sense of knowing God is absent. Mirabai Starr translates from John’s classic work Dark Night of the Soul.
The soul might continue to have qualms about wasting time. She may wonder if it would not be better to be doing something else, since she cannot think or activate anything in prayer. Let her bear these doubts calmly. There is no other way to go to prayer now than to surrender to this sweet ease and breadth of spirit. If the soul tries to engage her interior faculties to accomplish something, she will squander the goodness God is instilling in her through the peace in which she is simply resting….
The best thing for the soul to do is to pay no attention to the fact that the actions of her faculties are slipping away…. She needs to get out of the way. In peaceful plentitude, let her now say “yes” to the infused contemplation God is bestowing upon her…. Contemplation is nothing other than a secret, peaceful, loving inflow of God. If given room, it will fire the soul in the spirit of love. (Rohr, n.d.)
When our burdens take precedence in our consciousness, we might Stop, Take a breath, Observe our environment and Proceed in the acceptance of Jesus invitation to yoke with us on our journey.
References
Brock, M. L. (n.d.). Daily Reflections. Creighton Online Ministries: Home. Retrieved December 10, 2025, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/daily-reflections/daily-reflection-december-10-2025
Isaiah, CHAPTER 40 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved December 10, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/isaiah/40?25
Matthew, CHAPTER 11 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved December 10, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/11?28
Meditation on Matthew 11:28-30. (2025, December 10). Word Among Us.
Psalms, PSALM 103 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved December 10, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/103?1
Rohr, R. (n.d.). Daily Meditations — Center for Action and Contemplation. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved December 10, 2025, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/surviving-doubt/
Schwager, D. (n.d.). Come to Me and I Will Give You Rest. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved December 10, 2025, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/
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