Sunday July 9, 2023

“Jesus offers us everything we need for plowing the fields that God assigns to us.”

Good News Reflection for:

14th Sunday in Ordinary Time
July 9, 2023

Today’s Prayer:

Thank You, my Lord, for taking all those burdens that I cannot carry alone. Grant me the grace to recognize and surrender to You those wounds hidden from my eyes. Amen.

Subscribe to Today’s Saint Quote & Prayer:
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Today’s Readings:

Zechariah 9:9-10
Ps 145:1-2, 8-11, 13-14
Romans 8:9, 11-13
Matthew 11:25-30
bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/070923.cfm
USCCB Podcast of the Readings:
bible.usccb.org/podcasts/audio/july-9-2023

How to make burdens feel light

Does the yoke of Jesus weigh you down or does it feel light? His yoke — according to what he exampled with his life — is servanthood, a ministry that cares for others, a love that makes sacrifices.

We feel weighed down by personal struggles; we have so many of our own crosses to carry and so many people need our attention that we’re exhausted from it all. We need a vacation, an escape, time out! So why does Jesus tell us that his yoke is easy? Why does he say that the burdens of servanthood are light?

How can sharing in the ministry of Jesus be restful?

When the burdens of life wear us down and tire us out, it’s usually because we’ve taken on more responsibility than God has actually given to us.

Or else it’s because we’re expending energy trying to get rid of a cross after Jesus has yoked us to it. If the burden leads to burn-out, God lets us get tired, because he’s warning us: “Slow down! Simplify your life! Make a change! Spend more time in prayer!”

If it leads to anger and resentment, God is showing us that our selfish desire for an easier life is, in reality, making our lives more difficult.

In other words, when we strain and pull against the yoke — against our union with Christ — we suffer from our own mistaken ideas of what we should be doing. It is when we remember that we’re yoked to Someone who is infinitely stronger and wiser than we are that the burden becomes light. The yoke becomes a source of joy.

Jesus offers us everything we need for plowing the fields that God assigns to us. When we cooperate with him, the burden is indeed light. We find rest in Jesus and we benefit from his strength. Our anger and resentment and weariness disappear. We experience holy pleasure in our tasks, because we’re yoked to the goodness and the energy of Jesus himself.

Questions for Personal Reflection:
What are you doing that seems like a good idea but is wearing you out? What part of it is not God’s idea for you? What can you do to slow down, simplify, make a change, and become more aware of the strength of Jesus?

Questions for Community Faith Sharing:
Become accountable for the answer to the above personal questions by speaking of it to friends in your faith community: What changes are you going to make to allow Jesus to refresh and renew you? How might this make a difference?

To help you reflect more on this, go to our WordByte called: “Keys for living well on high stress” @ https://wordbytes.org/suffering/high-stress/

© 2023 by Terry A. Modica

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