GOD’S WORD FOR THE DAY (based on Catholic Liturgical Readings)
DATE: 14TH JULY 2016
THURSDAY OF THE 15TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
1ST READING: Isaiah 26:7-9, 12, 16-19
PSALM: Psalm 102:13-21
GOSPEL: Matthew 11:28-30
THEME: COME TO ME
“I am not happy inside”, “I am fed up”, “Life is meaningless”, “I want to end it all; I have lost thirst for living”. These words of frustration easily lend themselves to us when the challenges of life weigh us down. Well, the good news is that you do not have to forcefully snuff out the life in you. You can find true and lasting peace if you would turn to Jesus anew.
In our Gospel text Jesus says, “Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Mt. 11:28-30).
In seeking to interpret the Torah (i.e. the Jewish written Law, which consists primarily of the first five books of the Hebrew Bible), the scribes and Pharisees, with the passage of time, came out with so many dos and don’ts. Serving God soon became a thing of pain rather than joy. Already, many of these people were struggling with personal challenges in their lives and now scribal interpretations of the law made worship of the Lord another load.
Jesus saw the problem and offered himself as the solution. In the same way, he sees every problem that each one of us is faced with and offers himself as the solution. In the text under consideration, he proposes two steps that would bring true inner peace and rest for our souls.
The first is “take my yoke upon you”. Originally, “yoke” was a rabbinic metaphor for obedience to the Torah. Now Jesus personalises it and says, “take my yoke”. In other words, obey my word.
The second step is “learn from me”. It is an invitation to follow in the footsteps of Christ. Paul would say in one of his letters, “Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ” (1Cor 11:1).
In sum, if you desire true happiness and peace, then you would need to take the word of the Lord seriously and follow his way of life. Hellish lives are being transformed into blissful lives, thanks to the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Your life too can become beautiful if you would take his yoke and learn from him.
Jesus, meek and humble of heart, I yield to your word and way of life. May your grace cause a change in me and may my life serve to glorify you. Amen
Fr. Andrews Obeng, SVD
DIVINE WORD MISSIONARIES
BIBLICAL PASTORAL MINISTRY
(Ghana Province)