Matthew 11:25-30: Drawing Us Gently
Saturday, December 10, 2022
In my mother’s Bible which I read when I am home at Noontime, the Douay version of these well-known verses has a nostalgic ring. At that time, Jesus spoke and said, “I praise thee, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou didst hide these things from the wise and prudent, and didst reveal them to the little ones. For such was thy good pleasure”. And later those famous lines: 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 your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden light”.
And you will find rest for your souls . . .
Is this not what we all seek? Rest for the soul? Are we not troubled as we wend our way through our day, as we hear the morning and evening news? Whether we struggle with or for family, friends or strangers, does not the weight of the day so often feel ponderous by nightfall?
For I am meek and humble of heart . . .
Here is Jesus, the very expression of God to us, saying that he who is mighty and all-powerful and all-knowing and all-creating values most, meekness and humility, not power and glory. Do we not so often get this wrong? Do we not look for news of those who have million dollar sports or screen contracts? Do we not look for news of those who battle for political and social prominence?
For my yoke is heavy and my burden is light.
If we might only truly believe these words we would be less anxious, less worried, less controlling, less self-seeking. We have the power to act our belief. We are given the free will to choose to follow the wide road with its many deceits and traps or the narrow road of meekness and humility. The irony is that when we choose what looks like the easy road we become more burdened; and meanwhile the choice of the apparent difficult road frees us more than we can ever imagine possible. With God, all things are possible and all things work by inversion. When we think we are winning we are actually losing; and when we think we are losing we are actually winning.
Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened . . .
Can we not hear our Lord calling? Can we not see the smiling face and feel the outstretched hands? Are we too wise and too prudent to experience Christ’s presence? Or can we become his little ones? For this is the pleasure of God, that we become as little children who trust. It is through our child-like expectation that all good things are possible through God that God chooses to reveal himself to us, his children and it is in this way God draws all of us to himself.
And you will find rest for your souls.
A favorite from November 30, 2007.
Image from: https://lmw.org/he-cares-about-your-anxiety/ and https://www.amazon.ca/Find-Rest-Soul-Alone-Psalm/dp/B00JZC5AEK
The Noontimes 
Your word “gently” relates to Jesus’ word “meek.” As you contrast meekness with power, I would add a contrast between gentleness and violence (violent power). The powerful and violent are the great ones in our world (the “wise” who dominate others for their own advantage).
Similarly, the humble little ones (“children”) are disciples of Jesus, who was meek/gentle and humble/lowly–a contrast to the great ones. Like lowly children, who have the lowest place in terms of those who are great in the world, Jesus and his disciples share a more humble and gentle yoke, that of showing kindness (with “kindness” being another possible translation of “easy” at the end of Mt. 11).
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Beautifully said. Thanks for sharing your thoughts, and thanks for stopping by.
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This was a lovely reading. It actually calmed me down.:) I read a saying long ago and remember it often: By Babcock: “This is my Father’s world, oh let us not forget, that though the wrong seem oft’ so strong, God is Ruler yet!”
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So glad to know that you find the reflection helpful. I calm down writing the words! Thanks for stopping by The Noontimes.
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