Readings for Thursday of the Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time[1][2]
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
Commentary:
Reading 1 Ex 3:13-20
The first reading from Exodus continues Moses interview with God at the burning bush on Mount Horeb. Moses first tries to get God to give a name that he can use to tell the leaders of the people of Israel who it is that sent him. God’s response is a non-response, “I am who am.” Existing without a proper name, God is beyond control of mankind.
He continues his instruction telling Moses that the king of Egypt (Pharaoh) will not simply allow the people of Israel to leave. He promises to smite Egypt and in response the people will be sent away.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 105:1 and 5, 8-9, 24-25, 26-27
R. The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.
Psalm 105 is a hymn of thanksgiving. In this passage we find linkage to the first reading as in the first strophe we see a call to invoke the name of God, first given above. The song continues to remember the story of Moses’ call to go to Egypt.
Gospel Mt 11:28-30
In this passage, unique to St. Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus invites those burdened by the yoke of Pharisaic Law to believe in Him. Obedience to the word of Christ is much easier than the complex rules of the Law under scribal interpretation.
Homily:
“Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest.”
What a gracious invitation from Jesus. Scripture scholars tell us that the reference in this passage is to the burden of Pharisaic Law with all its complex requirements that made it difficult even to go about one’s daily business without violating some minute requirement. This, say those who study the ancient texts, was the original purpose for the statement.
For those of us who walk in the world and hear the simple words “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest” say much more, don’t they. They invite us to place all of life’s burdens at the feet of Christ. His invitation tells us he will take away the fears and sorrows, the anxiety and dread we feel and leave in their place, peace.
It is so simple an offer. We can almost feel it being made as he hung upon the cross for us. “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest.” He takes way the intense guilt we feel, he washes us from all the ways in which we have turned from him and leaves us light and pure.
What is the catch our skeptical inner voice may ask? The catch is that we must open our hearts and accept that invitation. We need to put the burdens down, not cling to them as we often do. We must lay our hatred, our jealousy, our greed, and our fear at his feet. If we can do that, his tender yoke is indeed no burden at all and we will have peace.
Pax
[1] After Links to Readings Expire
[2] The picture used today is Christ the Consoler by Ary Scheffer, 1637
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
Commentary:
Reading 1 Ex 3:13-20
The first reading from Exodus continues Moses interview with God at the burning bush on Mount Horeb. Moses first tries to get God to give a name that he can use to tell the leaders of the people of Israel who it is that sent him. God’s response is a non-response, “I am who am.” Existing without a proper name, God is beyond control of mankind.
He continues his instruction telling Moses that the king of Egypt (Pharaoh) will not simply allow the people of Israel to leave. He promises to smite Egypt and in response the people will be sent away.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 105:1 and 5, 8-9, 24-25, 26-27
R. The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.
Psalm 105 is a hymn of thanksgiving. In this passage we find linkage to the first reading as in the first strophe we see a call to invoke the name of God, first given above. The song continues to remember the story of Moses’ call to go to Egypt.
Gospel Mt 11:28-30
In this passage, unique to St. Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus invites those burdened by the yoke of Pharisaic Law to believe in Him. Obedience to the word of Christ is much easier than the complex rules of the Law under scribal interpretation.
Homily:
“Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest.”
What a gracious invitation from Jesus. Scripture scholars tell us that the reference in this passage is to the burden of Pharisaic Law with all its complex requirements that made it difficult even to go about one’s daily business without violating some minute requirement. This, say those who study the ancient texts, was the original purpose for the statement.
For those of us who walk in the world and hear the simple words “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest” say much more, don’t they. They invite us to place all of life’s burdens at the feet of Christ. His invitation tells us he will take away the fears and sorrows, the anxiety and dread we feel and leave in their place, peace.
It is so simple an offer. We can almost feel it being made as he hung upon the cross for us. “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest.” He takes way the intense guilt we feel, he washes us from all the ways in which we have turned from him and leaves us light and pure.
What is the catch our skeptical inner voice may ask? The catch is that we must open our hearts and accept that invitation. We need to put the burdens down, not cling to them as we often do. We must lay our hatred, our jealousy, our greed, and our fear at his feet. If we can do that, his tender yoke is indeed no burden at all and we will have peace.
Pax
[1] After Links to Readings Expire
[2] The picture used today is Christ the Consoler by Ary Scheffer, 1637
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