Homily for 9 July 2023 by Fr. Gerard Jonas
14th Week in Ordinary Time
Divine Benevolence
Zechariah 9:9-10; Psalm 144; Romans 8:9, 11-13; Matthew 11:25-30
There may be a seemingly contradictory side of the Gospel as seen in the Gospel Reading last Sunday and today. Last Sunday, Jesus seems too demanding, saying “Anyone who prefers father or mother…son or daughter to me is not worthy of me. Anyone who does not take his cross and follow in my footsteps is not worthy of me…”, and today Jesus seems too condescending, saying: ‘come to me all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest…”
But truly it’s the same Jesus with the same exhortation. The Gospel still calls for the total giving of self, not as the denial of that self, but as the only way to find one’s true self. At the same time, our God is a God of infinite patience and compassion as we stumble along in our efforts to unite ourselves fully with him. Psalm 145 says: “The LORD lifts up all who fall and raises up all who are bowed down.”
(I remember to have shared before that observably, senior citizens are prone to, and are, in fact, the leading carriers of AIDS: reading-seeing aids, hearing aids, walking aids, grabbing and scratching aids, retirement aids, and many others! Everywhere you see people fitted or fumbling with just about any personal gadget to help them get along in their daily lives. And when the Covid-19 pandemic struck, millions of people sought government aid to survive.)
The Gospel Reading today tells of how the Lord offers divine assistance, ‘come to me all you who labor and are burdened and I will give you rest… Take my yoke..’ Here, Jesus alludes to his claim to be the Good Shepherd, who as Psalm 23 says, brings the sheep to restful waters. But what rest does he offer when he is giving out a yoke? Well, notice how burdensome or even impossible it is to read when one’s eyesight is failing. It surely is helpful, even if cumbersome, to wear eyeglasses. I remember to have started wearing trifocal eyeglasses soon as I turned 40. I cannot but admit the need to have them.
Whatever Jesus demands on our following him, he wants to be at all times truly the source of comfort, consolation, and of forgiveness, and reconciliation. Whatever demands life may make on us, Jesus is there too to be called on. When we are in difficulties and pain, we can ask him to take them away. But remember that the Lord is not to be seen as an escape from our problems. Sometimes he gives us peace not from our pain but within our pain.
Peace comes from saying a sincere “Yes” to what is clearly God’s will in our life. This will of God is most often made known by the realities by which we are surrounded. Peace comes when what I want and what God wants – when God’s will and my will concur. This is not passive fatalism; it is an active and joyful response.
The Lord assures that his yoke is easy. When someone is admitted to the monastery, the Rule of Benedict states that one takes upon his neck the yoke of the Rule. Monastic rules are not meant to impose limitations but help to effectively live out one’s monastic vocation along with others in the community. As Fr. Mark pointed out, they are not a mere list of regulations but an exhortation to a lifestyle. Like scaffolds, they help firm up the structure of the monastic life that enhances personal growth in one’s quest for God and His will. Notice how a simple walking stick can really do wonders in balance and mobility.
The Lord also gives a simple clue, (giving himself as an example) “Learn from me, for I am humble and gentle of heart.” It is only in childlike humility can we admit the need for and so be open to welcome assistance. This calls for the simplicity and openness of children rather than intellectual sophistication. It is another thing to know where and how to get trustworthy help. With eyeglasses, I need not strain my eyes to see clearly. If I can trust my eyeglasses to be of significant help, how can I not entrust myself to Him who offers divine assistance and nurtures me so I can be worthy to be with Him, even unto eternity?
Jesus assures us that his “yoke” is easy and his “burden” light. The “yoke” of love that he puts upon our obedient heart becomes “easy”. He gives us the grace and strength to bear it. The “burden” that faithful Christian discipleship entails becomes “light.” He fills us with the power and wisdom of the Holy Spirit to follow him through the way of the cross to eternal glory.
And there is still another way of understanding the image of the yoke. Think of it as a double yoke, where two oxen can work together better. We now have a lovely image of Jesus and ourselves yoked together, pulling together. “Shoulder my yoke” then becomes “Share my yoke”. Where I go, he goes along with me, pulling together with me and making it all the easier. This is divine benevolence. The Lord calls us and at the same time enables us to respond accordingly. Indeed, welcoming Jesus all the way is not intended as a burden, but as a source of comfort, peace, liberation, and joy.
May we ever learn to prefer nothing to the love of Christ and so truly benefit from his divine benevolence.