14th Sunday in Ordinary Time
In todays Gospel, we read one of the most beautiful and most important sayings of Jesus. “Come to me, all you who are weary and find life burdensome, and I will refresh you…”
Experiencing weariness and finding life burdensome is part of the human condition. There is ordinary fatigue from hard work. There is weariness that comes from boredom. An extreme kind of weariness borders on severe depression and suicide.
Just as there are different degrees of weariness, so too there are different types of burdens. There is the ordinary burden of responsibility that comes from being a leader, parent or teacher. There is also the burden of being sick, handicapped, out of work, widowed or divorced. In some circumstances we feel the heavy weight of being restricted– physically, financially or emotionally.
There are also the burdens we sometimes carry in looking after others—perhaps taking care of a disabled child, a crippled spouse, or a senile parent. No matter what type of weariness or what burdens we may be carrying, Jesus says: “Come to me and I will give you rest.” Not only does he promise rest but also strength and peace because he will give us grace, he will give us life.
If only we believe that, we would fulfill our responsibilities with joy, fight to overcome difficulties with determination, and take on challenges with courage. We will discover that “his yoke is easy and His burden light.”
God Bless
Msgr. Powell
13th Sunday in Ordinary Time
HAPPY 4th of JULY – GOD BLESS AMERICA
Jesus, knowing that His life on earth would end, chose apostles whom he would send out in His name to continue His mission. He tells them that: “Whoever receives you receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.”
The Church of Matthew’s time, after the destruction of the Temple in A.D. 70, particularly needed to hear what Jesus had to say about continuing His mission in their own day. Yet these instructions directed to the twelve apostles continue to have relevance in our day as we carry on the mission given Jesus by the Father.
In todays Gospel, Jesus assures His disciple that they will suffer as a result of knowing Him. As Jesus would experience persecution and rejection, so His disciples would experience comparable pain. The suffering would involve persecution from both religious and secular authorities as well as resistance and division within families. Jesus urges His followers not to be afraid of their persecutors, but to trust in God’s care for them. Taking up the cross and even losing one’s life for Jesus will be rewarded with everlasting life in the kingdom
We are His apostles and disciples today. Jesus is with us and strengthens us for our mission as His Church. May God help each of us to feel His peace and strength. May God give us the grace to trust Him each day. May God guide us in this life to the everlasting life of Heaven.