Yet those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles... – Isaiah 40:31

This verse was my “battlecry” when I was single — because I would cry while I battled with my emotions of impatience and despair. It had been 10 long years of repeatedly giving up my boyfriend — and going back to him — in my desire to follow the Lord. But here was the Lord telling me to wait some more. I was no longer a spring chicken and yet the Lord made it clear that this wasn’t the man for me. I was getting so impatient that I was convincing God that this man would do.

       I tried to change God’s mind by forcing my boyfriend to be active in our prayer group. I even fasted for a week with the hope that God would finally say he’s the one. But the song that kept playing in my car was, “Wait, wait, wait on the Lord. You will understand in time why you must wait.”

       Oswald Chambers wrote, “When God gives you a vision and darkness follows, wait. God will bring the vision He has given you to reality in your life if you will wait on His timing. Never try to help God fulfill His Word.”

       In those 10 years, God broke my impatient streak and self-will, and taught me how to wait on Him. He broke all my self-reliance and dependence on others and taught me to rely on Him alone. And when God saw I was ready, he brought my future husband into my life. Ronna Ledesma (ronna_ledesma@yahoo.com.ph)

Reflection: God is never early or late. He is always on time.

Father, thank You for rewarding with good things those who wait on You.

St. John Roberts, priest and martyr, pray for us.

What a wonderful set of images at the conclusion of this passage from Isaiah. We can see why sometimes his prophecies are referred to as the fifth Gospel. Isaiah’s prophecies are full of images of hope and victory because he is speaking to a people who are in the midst of exactly the opposite. They need to be encouraged to persevere in their trust in God because things are pretty grim for them.

27 [25] To whom can you liken me as an equal? says the Holy One. 28 [26] Lift up your eyes on high and see who has created these things: He leads out their army and numbers them, calling them all by name. By his great might and the strength of his power not one of them is missing! 29 [27] Why, O Jacob, do you say, and declare, O Israel, “My way is hidden from the Lord, and my right is disregarded by my God”? 30 [28] Do you not know or have you not heard? The Lord is the eternal God, creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint nor grow weary, and his knowledge is beyond scrutiny. 31 [29] He gives strength to the fainting; for the weak he makes vigor abound. 32 [30] Though young men faint and grow weary, and youths stagger and fall, 33 [31] they that hope in the Lord will renew their strength, they will soar as with eagles’ wings; they will run and not grow weary, walk and not grow faint.

R: O bless the Lord, my soul!

1 Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all my being, bless his holy name. 2 Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits.(R) 3 He pardons all your iniquities, he heals all your ills. 4 He redeems your life from destruction, he crowns you with kindness  nd compassion. (R) 8 Merciful and gracious is the Lord, slow to anger and abounding in kindness. 10 Not according to our sins does he deal with us, nor does he requite us according to our crimes. (R)

Jesus specifically calls us to lay our problems on His shoulders so that He can carry them for us. He does not just help us carry our trials but is willing to take over. This is the depth of His love and care for us. Let us never forget that He died on the cross so that our sins would be forgiven. This is proof of His love for us. How many people would you be willing to give your life for?

Behold, the Lord comes to save his people; blessed are those prepared 

28 Jesus said to the crowds: “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for your selves. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.”

OUR YOKE WITH JESUS

For many of us, the word “yoke” has little or no meaning. We may not even be familiar with a yoke. The people who lived during Jesus’ time would know that a yoke is tailored to fit a specific team of oxen working in the field. It’s not a “one size fits all” thing. It is specifically made for the individual team of oxen, so that it feels like second skin and provides as much comfort as possible to enable them to do the maximum amount of work with minimum discomfort.

         Now what does the yoke of Jesus refer to when He says, “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me…”? When Jesus asks us to take the yoke, He proposes that we make Him our yoke-mate. The yoke, in fact, belongs to Him and He only invites us to team up with Him. The yoke of Christ does not mean Jesus will pass on the burden to us. Rather, He would like us to share our burdens with Him. To take the yoke of Christ is to know that we are not pulling the yoke alone with our own power but we do it together with Christ and by the strength that comes from Him. He is not just a teacher who gives us homework, then leaves us alone to figure it out. He is also a friend who helps us do it. He is not just a supervisor who gives us work but a colleague who helps us accomplish our task. He is not a leader who commands, “Go!” but a servant leader who invites, “Let’s go!”

         Jesus does not promise an end to our suffering or a problem-free life. His doctrine is not the problem-free philosophy offered by the prosperity gospel preachers. What He tells us is that He will not give us what we cannot bear. He will help us carry our burdens and face our adversities courageously. We, too, should remember that the yoke upon our shoulders was placed there by our gentle and loving Master. Jesus is always with us and will never abandon us. Knowing that Jesus is on our side, there is nothing too difficult that we cannot bear. When we hold on to His promise, we will pass the test and will get out of our adversities a much better and stronger person. Fr. Joel Jason

REFLECTION QUESTION: A Jewish proverb says, “I ask not for a lighter burden, but for broader shoulders.” What is your prayer in the face of adversities?

Whenever I am tired and burdened by life’s trials, help me to remember that You are there, Lord, ready to carry my burden with me and to give me comfort.