At one point in my ministry life, I got so exhausted from giving, serving, and loving. I also had symptoms of depression and anxiety, so they added to my spiritual, physical, and mental exhaustion. I healed over time but found myself staying away from service. I gave only the bare minimum. 

Why did Jesus say His yoke is easy? Because it’s not. His cross is heavy. I would even joke with Him in prayer, “You’re a scam, Lord! There is nothing light about this yoke!” 

I haven’t fully understood what this verse means, but what I do know is this: Each time I fell, God was there to help me stand back up. Each time my cross seemed too heavy to bear, God was there to take it off my shoulders. Each time I felt I was fighting a losing battle, God would take me aside and fight that battle for me. 

The burden God allows us to carry might be heavy, but take comfort in knowing that He is with us every step of the way. And it does make everything lighter. Karren Renz Seña (karren.sena@gmail.com) 

Reflect:

Are you carrying a heavy burden right now? Bring it to God. He will help you carry it. More than that, He will carry it for you. 

Father God, this cross is too heavy for me. I know that this is for a purpose, so I humbly accept it. Help me carry it through to the end. 

St. Camillus de Lellis, pray for us.

When we have unrepented sin, it is as though we are living in a sun-scorched desert without any water. This can change right away if we accept the grace of repentance that the Lord constantly offers us and allow it to clean us of sin. We then experience the life-giving waters of the Spirit of God coming to heal, refresh, and renew us. 

⁷ The way of the just is smooth; the path of the just you make level. ⁸ Yes, for your way and your judgments, O Lord, we look to you; Your name and your title are the desire of our souls. ⁹ My soul yearns for you in the night, yes, my spirit within me keeps vigil for you; when your judgment dawns upon the earth, the world’s inhabitants learn justice. ¹² O Lord, you mete out peace to us, for it is you who have accomplished all we have done. ¹⁶ O Lord, oppressed by your punishment, we cried out in anguish under your chastising. ¹⁷ As a woman about to give birth writhes and cries out in her pains, so were we in your presence, O Lord. ¹⁸ We conceived and writhed in pain, giving birth to wind; salvation we have not achieved for the earth, the inhabitants of the world cannot bring it forth. ¹⁹ But your dead shall live, their corpses shall rise; awake and sing, you who lie in the dust. For your dew is a dew of light, and the land of shades gives birth. 

Responsorial Psalm | Psalm 102:13-14, 15, 16-18, 19-21

R: From heaven the Lord looks down on the earth. 

¹³ You, O Lord, abide forever, and your name through all generations. ¹⁴ You will arise and have mercy on Zion, for it is time to pity her. ¹⁵ For her stones are dear to your servants, and her dust moves them to pity. (R) ¹⁶ And the nations shall revere your name, O Lord, and all the kings of the earth your glory, ¹⁷ when the Lord has rebuilt Zion and appeared in his glory; ¹⁸ when he has regarded the prayer of the destitute, and not despised their prayer. (R) ¹⁹ Let this be written for the generation to come, and let his future creatures praise the Lord: ²⁰ “The Lord looked down from his holy height, from heaven he beheld the earth, ²¹ To hear the groaning of the prisoners, to release those doomed to die.” (R) 

Gospel | Matthew 11:28-30

The yoke of Jesus is easy and His burden is light. He is the one who shouldered the weight of our sins when He carried His cross to Calvary. We have been relieved of the burden of sin so that we can approach the throne room of God with a purified and holy heart. Let us cherish this precious gift. 

Gospel Acclamation

Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest, says the Lord. 

²⁸ Jesus said: “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.” 

Read the Bible in one year! Read PSALMS 56 - 60 today.

There are situations and pains we simply have to endure—until they pass away. Life, as we often pray, is “a valley of tears.” Realism, therefore, involves not a dreamlike idealism, nor an escapist attitude of denial, nor hopeless pessimism. Realism means a healthy acceptance of situations, with hope and faith in our hearts.

Jesus did not come to erase all pain. These are indications of a world broken by sin and, consequently, of evil. These pains also remind us of the transitory nature of our life. Life as a journey or pilgrimage will always involve upheavals and transitions.

There are key words that the Gospel underlines for us. These can be a soothing balm for us as we go on with life’s inevitables:

Take rest. Rest is part of the rhythm of life. We must not always be busybodies. We need not be uptight about everything. Besides physical rest for the body, we also need to consider recovery time for our minds and our hearts. We must take care of ourselves—our most important resource in our life project.

Follow Jesus and serve each other with meekness and humility. We have heard the proverbial saying: “There are many ways to skin a cat.” Methods, approaches, and attitudes can make a difference along the way. We may opt to be tough and aggressive, focusing on results and timetables. We may choose to interact with persons—allowing them to inform us, and to form and lighten our hearts—as we walk along. Life is what we make of it. We can be like the lion, almost always roaring and prowling. We can be like the ox, carrying heavy burdens with relaxed pace and gracious sway. Fr. Domie Guzman, SSP 

reflection question:

What are your inevitable worries and burdens in life? At work? At home? What is your favorite way of resting in the midst of all these things?

Remind me always, Lord, of my need to rest—especially to rest in Your presence. Amen.

Today, I pray for: _______________________________________________