The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today invite us to contemplate images of eagles and yoked oxen to appreciate the strength we receive in our relationship with God.
Soar like eagles
The reading from the Book Of the Prophet Isaiah reminds the exiles in Babylon that they shall mount up with wings like eagles.
* [40:27–28] The exiles, here called Jacob-Israel (Gn 32:29), must not give way to discouragement: their Lord is the eternal God.1
Psalm 103 is a thanksgiving for God’s goodness.
* [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).2
In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus consoles us with an invitation to a yoke that is easy, and a burden that is light.
* [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).3
Edward Morse shares that today’s gospel provides a comforting message for those who are tired now, as well as those who fear they may be tiring.
This world and its regular drumbeat of demands -- along with all of the other noise that attends them -- sometimes deprives us of the silence and peace we need, from which the song of God’s love that we need to hear emerges. Jesus is telling us that he understands the burdens, and he can help us deal with them. Like the hawk and the eagle, we need to soar, but we also need to rest. Jesus is calling us to Himself, to seek out peace and silence, so that we may hear the song of God’s love. And perhaps He is also giving us an opportunity to assist in some small way to provide a little rest for others, maybe even some music for their weary, forgetful hearts. Thanks be to our generous God.4
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).5
The Word Among Us Meditation on Isaiah 40:25-31 asks “Are you weary? Are there areas in your life that make you feel anxious or fearful? Or maybe there is a pattern of sin that you can’t break and that is draining you of your hope or joy.” Whatever the case, follow your ancestors in faith and lift up your eyes.
Do it tonight, in fact. Go out and gaze at the stars. Put yourself in Abraham’s shoes as he looked up at the sky. Join the exiles in Babylon when they first heard the words in today’s reading. As you do, recall God’s promises to you in Christ. Jesus has promised to be with you, to hear you when you call out to him, to wipe every tear from your eyes, and to forgive your every sin. He has promised to nourish you with his Body and Blood so that you can “run and not grow weary” (Isaiah 40:31). And above all else, he has promised to love you—always. “Lord, as I stand under your stars, I can’t help but be in awe of your love.”6
Friar Jude Winkler discusses the concern of the Babylonian exiles about the power of God. In Jesus' time, oxen yokes were custom fitted and usually double. Friar Jude suggests that plowing on our own will result in a crooked path.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, shares work of his friend Ronald Rolheiser, O.M.I. who reminds us that giving birth spiritually is a dynamic and creative process. To bring Christ into the world involves an ongoing commitment to growth, to discomfort, to love, and to surrender. It is not for the faint of heart, but it is God’s invitation to all of us.
All of this is what Mary went through to give Christ to the world: Pregnancy by the Holy Spirit; gestation of that into a child inside of her; excruciating pain in birthing that to the outside; nurturing that new life into adulthood; and pondering, painfully letting go so that this new life can be its own, not hers. . . . Our task too is to give birth to Christ. Mary is the paradigm for doing that. From her we get the pattern: Let the word of God take root and make you pregnant; gestate that by giving it the nourishing sustenance of your own life; submit to the pain that is demanded for it to be born to the outside; then spend years coaxing it from infancy to adulthood; and finally, during and after all of this, do some pondering, accept the pain of not understanding and of letting go.7
Our labour in the field with Jesus is supported by the grace to plow a straight path and soar like the eagle.
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