The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today invite us to ponder the path of our journey and consider Jesus' invitation to join with Him in working for full life.
The reading from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah expresses Judah’s Praise and a Prayer for Deliverance.
* [26:1–19] This text is a mixture of praise for the salvation that will take place, a confession of Judah’s inability to achieve deliverance on its own, and earnest prayer that God may quickly bring about the longed-for salvation.
* [26:1] Strong city: Jerusalem, the antithesis of the “city of chaos” (24:10); see note on 24:1–27:13.
* [26:19] This verse refers not to resurrection of the dead, but to the restoration of the people; cf. Ez 37. The population of Judah was radically reduced by the slaughter and deportations that the historical disasters of the late eighth and seventh centuries B.C. brought upon the country. In this context, a major concern for the future was for an increase in the population, a rebirth of the nation’s life. (Isaiah, CHAPTER 26 | USCCB, n.d.)
Psalm 102 is a prayer to the Eternal King for Help.
* [Psalm 102] A lament, one of the Penitential Psalms. The psalmist, experiencing psychological and bodily disintegration (Ps 102:4–12), cries out to God (Ps 102:1–3). In the Temple precincts where God has promised to be present, the psalmist recalls God’s venerable promises to save the poor (Ps 102:13–23). The final part (Ps 102:24–28) restates the original complaint and prayer, and emphasizes God’s eternity. (Psalms, PSALM 102 | USCCB, n.d.)
The Gospel of Matthew declares 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.)
Cindy Costanzo notes that as faithful believers in God - strength lies in converting our faith to action by caring, loving and helping our family, friends, and neighbors.
Isaiah 26 reminds us to rely on the strength that God offers.
Matthew 11 reminds us to give Jesus our burdens."Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened,
and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me,
for I am meek and humble of heart;
and you will find rest for yourselves.
For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.”Let both scripture readings remind us that we are never alone. (Costanzo, 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 if we move past any fear or hesitation we might have and actually harness ourselves to the Lord with an openness to learn, we’ll discover that his yoke truly is as “easy” and “light” as he promised. Not because we can still do whatever we want, but because Jesus is such a “meek and humble” master (Matthew 11:29). He is patient with us because he knows all our weaknesses and failings—and he loves us unconditionally.
Is there an area of your life that you’re struggling to bring under Jesus’ yoke? Remember the oxen! Remember how much easier life can be if you confess your need for him. Rather than trying to fight and pull to go your own way, imagine how much more restful it can be if you surrender to him. Maybe not immediately, but definitely in the long run, you will “find rest” under the gentle mastery of the Lord (Matthew 11:29)!
“Lord, teach me how to walk under your yoke.” (Meditation on Matthew 11:28-30, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler comments on the different attitude of God to the world in chapters 24-27 of Isaiah that is in contrast to the punishment theme in the rest of the first 39 chapters. The yoke we are invited to join with Jesus is custom sized for us as the ancient oxen yoke was to protect the working animals. Friar Jude reminds us that through prayer our joint love with Christ acts to visit the recipient with love.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, helps us understand that a moral inventory or “shadow work” is a necessary part of the spiritual life. Moral scrutiny is not to discover how good or bad we are and regain some moral high ground, but to begin some honest “shadowboxing” which is at the heart of all spiritual awakening. Yes, “the truth will set you free” as Jesus says (John 8:32), but first it tends to make us miserable.
Our shadow self is not our evil self. It is just that part of us that we do not want to see, our unacceptable self by reason of nature, nurture, and choice. That bit of denial is what allows us to do evil and cruel things—without recognizing them as evil or cruel. Ongoing shadowboxing is absolutely necessary because we all have a well-denied shadow self. We all have that which we cannot see, will not see, dare not see. It would destroy our public and personal self-image.
Jesus says, “Take the log out of your own eye first, and then you will see clearly enough to take the splinter out of your brother’s or sister’s eye” (Matthew 7:5). Step 4 is about dealing with our own log first, so we can stop blaming, accusing, and denying, and thus displacing the problem. It’s about seeing truthfully and fully. Note that Jesus does not just praise good moral behavior or criticize immoral behavior, as we might expect. Instead, he talks about something caught in the eye. He knows that if we see rightly, the actions and behavior will eventually take care of themselves. (Rohr, n.d.)
We seek the insight of the Spirit into the ways in which we are not seeing the fullness of life that is the fruit of accepting we are working with Christ to plow our path with His help.
References
Costanzo, C. (n.d.). Daily Reflection Of Creighton University's Online Ministries. OnlineMinistries. Retrieved July 18, 2024, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/071824.html
Isaiah, CHAPTER 26 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved July 18, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/isaiah/26?7
Matthew, CHAPTER 11 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved July 18, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/11?28
Meditation on Matthew 11:28-30. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved July 18, 2024, from https://wau.org/meditations/2024/07/18/1024786/
Psalms, PSALM 102 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved July 18, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/102?13
Rohr, R. (n.d.). Daily Meditations — Center for Action and Contemplation. Light by Which We See. Retrieved July 18, 2024, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/light-by-which-we-see/
Schwager, D. (n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved July 18, 2024, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2024&date=jul18
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