First reading: Zec. 9:9–10
Thus says the LORD: Rejoice heartily, O daughter Zion, shout for joy, O daughter Jerusalem! See, your king shall come to you; a just savior is he, meek, and riding on an ass, on a colt, the foal of an ass. He shall banish the chariot from Ephraim, and the horse from Jerusalem; the warrior’s bow shall be banished, and he shall proclaim peace to the nations. His dominion shall be from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth.
Second reading: Rom. 8:9,11–13
Brothers and sisters: You are not in the flesh; on the contrary, you are in the spirit, if only the Spirit of God dwells in you. Whoever does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. If the Spirit of the one who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, the one who raised Christ from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also, through his Spirit that dwells in you. Consequently, brothers and sisters, we are not debtors to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh, you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.
Gospel: Mt. 11:25–30
At that time 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. Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him.”
“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.”
In other words
by Fr. Vicente Uy, SVD (Holy Name University, Tagbilaran City, Bohol)
For a change, I would like to dissect the invitation of Christ to “rest,” phrase by phrase:
“Come to me…” When we need rest and spiritual advice, we must choose carefully. Here, Christ is telling us to choose him, not someone else; certainly, not someone who is not of God!
“…all you who labor and are burdened…” Are you tired? Are you depressed? Are you suffering from “burn-out”? Leave everything behind for a moment. “Let go and let God.” Let go of your burdens and let God help you.
“…and I will give you rest…” When we want rest, let us go to the Lord in prayer. Let us spend at least an hour or so in prayer every day, no matter how busy we are.
“Take my yoke upon you…” When a crisis comes upon you, turn to the Lord. Let him help you. It’s his “yoke” as well, not just yours. But take it! Always remember that God is just around the corner.
“…and learn from me…” Do not do what the pagans or unbelievers do, who follow pagan practices. Trust in God’s love and mercy, in the same way Jesus did in the garden of Gethsemane by surrendering himself to the will of his Father: “Not my will, but yours be done.”
“…for I am meek and humble of heart…” Just as Jesus is meek and humble of heart, let us strive to be trusting in God, like a little child, no matter what we go through in life. Pride makes us bitter!
“…you will find rest for yourselves. For my yoke is easy and my burden light.” If we respond to God’s call to come to him, he will give us what we are looking for, that is, we will find rest for ourselves. Taking upon a yoke was rabbinic language symbolizing acceptance of the Rabbi’s teaching. In other words, Jesus is inviting us to be his students (disciples), assuring us that the yoke of Jesus’ teaching is, indeed, “easy” and “light” to all who love him. Love makes everything light and easy.
For us priests, the yoke of Christ is our ministry to those who are entrusted to our care. It is a ministry of love, a love for his people, leading them to God and bringing them closer to him.
When the yoke of ministry sometimes seems like the cross of Christ, that is, heavy and hurting, may the friendship of Christ and our love for him make us feel his yoke as easy and light.