Contemplating today's Gospel
Today's Gospel + homily (in 300 words)
The Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and of great kindness. The Lord is good to all and compassionate toward all his works.
Let all your works give you thanks, o Lord, and let your faithful ones bless you. Let them discourse of the glory of your kingdom and speak of your might.
The Lord is faithful in all his words and holy in all his works. The Lord lifts up all who are falling and raises up all who are bowed down.
"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."
“Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest”
Fr. Antoni POU OSB Monk of Montserrat (Montserrat, Barcelona, Spain)Today, Jesus shows us two realities that define Him: no one knows the Father except Him, and He is “meek and humble of heart” (Mt 11:29). We can also discover two necessary attitudes to understand and live what Jesus offers us: simplicity and the desire to approach Him.
Wise and learned people often find it difficult to enter into the mystery of God's Kingdom, because they are not open to the novelty of divine revelation; God never ceases to manifest Himself, but they believe that they already know everything and, therefore, God can no longer surprise them. The simple ones, on the other hand, like children at their best, are receptive —they are like a sponge that absorbs water, and they have the capacity for surprise and admiration. There are also exceptions, and there are even experts in human sciences who can be humble in terms of the knowledge of God.
In the Father, Jesus finds his rest, and his peace can be a refuge for all those who have been troubled by life: “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest” (Mt 11:28). Jesus is humble, and humility is the sister of simplicity. When we learn to be happy through simplicity, then many complications unravel, many needs disappear, and in the end, we can rest. Jesus invites us to follow Him; He does not deceive us: being with Him is to carry His yoke, to assume the demand for love. We will not be spared suffering, but His burden is light. That is, our suffering will not come because of our selfishness; rather, we will suffer only what is necessary —and no more— because of love and with the help of the Spirit. Also, let's not forget, "the tribulations suffered for God are softened by hope" (St. Ephrem).
Thoughts on Today's Gospel
“Let us really take the trouble to learn the lesson of holiness from Jesus, whose heart was meek and humble. The first lesson from this heart is an examination of our conscience, and the rest — love and service — follow at once.” (Saint Teresa of Calcutta)
“Jesus makes the Father known to us. Who does Jesus reveal the Father to? Only those with the heart of babes are capable of receiving this revelation.” (Francis)
“The kingdom belongs to the poor and lowly, which means those who have accepted it with humble hearts (...). Jesus identifies himself with the poor of every kind and makes active love toward them the condition for entering his kingdom.” (Catechism Of The Catholic Church, Nº 544)
December 25th
The Nativity of the Lord (Christmas): Mass during the Night
Gospel and commentary video
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