The author of Second Isaiah offers praise to the
God of Creation who the people of Israel, who find themselves in exile in
Babylon, may, as Friar Jude Winkler notes, have become concerned that they are
forgotten in their plight. The texts of the Roman Catholic Lectionary today
speak to the truth that we are not alone. The task which the exiles in Babylon prayed
they would undertake involved return to Jerusalem and restoration of their life
in harmony with the Covenant with God. The ‘second Exodus’ became reality and
the strength which lifted them on eagle’s wings and gave them the vitality and perseverance
of young men became their experience. The apostolic exhortation of Pope
Francis, “The Joy of the Gospel”, sets out the dream from Jesus prayer to the
Father that they all be one (John 17:21). The Gospel passage today from Matthew
resonates with people who face and are living with challenge. Canadian
Sculptor, Timothy Schmalz, inspired by Matthew 11:29-30 has created a piece “TakeUp My Yoke” which depicts the circumstance of experiencing Jesus pulling
together with us. Maureen McCann Waldron of Creighton University identifies the
stress and burden of the To Do list which too often blocks our time to meditate
on God, Creator, and Transcendent and our personal experience of having the
yoke pulled more by our intimate companion, Jesus, than by our own feeble
efforts. Sculptor Schmalz and Friar Jude express our experience of the many
faces of which are Christ to us in the world. It is through the power of the
Holy Spirit acting through and in those yoked with Jesus that the dreams of
Papa Francesco and many people for the shalom of Isaiah extending to all will
be our experience.
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