Wednesday of the Second Week of Advent
Lectionary: 183
Lectionary: 183
To whom can you liken me as an equal?
says the Holy One.
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!
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”?
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.
He gives strength to the fainting;
for the weak he makes vigor abound.
Though young men faint and grow weary,
and youths stagger and fall,
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.
says the Holy One.
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!
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”?
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.
He gives strength to the fainting;
for the weak he makes vigor abound.
Though young men faint and grow weary,
and youths stagger and fall,
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.
Responsorial PsalmPS 103:1-2, 3-4,
8 AND 10
R. (1) O bless the Lord, my soul!
Bless the LORD, O my soul;
and all my being, bless his holy name.
Bless the LORD, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits.
R. O bless the Lord, my soul!
He pardons all your iniquities,
he heals all your ills.
He redeems your life from destruction,
he crowns you with kindness and compassion.
R. O bless the Lord, my soul!
Merciful and gracious is the LORD,
slow to anger and abounding in kindness.
Not according to our sins does he deal with us,
nor does he requite us according to our crimes.
R. O bless the Lord, my soul!
Bless the LORD, O my soul;
and all my being, bless his holy name.
Bless the LORD, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits.
R. O bless the Lord, my soul!
He pardons all your iniquities,
he heals all your ills.
He redeems your life from destruction,
he crowns you with kindness and compassion.
R. O bless the Lord, my soul!
Merciful and gracious is the LORD,
slow to anger and abounding in kindness.
Not according to our sins does he deal with us,
nor does he requite us according to our crimes.
R. O bless the Lord, my soul!
GospelMT 11:28-30
Jesus said to the crowds:
“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 yourselves.
For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.”
“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 yourselves.
For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.”
Meditation: "Come to me and I will give you
rest"
What kind of yoke does the Lord Jesus have in mind for each one
of us? And how can it be good for us? The Jewish people used the image of a
yoke to express their submission to God. They spoke of the yoke of the law, the
yoke of the commandments, the yoke of the kingdom, the yoke of God. Jesus
says his yoke is "easy". The Greek word for "easy" can also
mean "well-fitting". Yokes were tailor-made to fit the oxen well for
labor. We are commanded to put on the "sweet yoke of Jesus" and to
live the "heavenly way of life and happiness". Oxen were yoked two by
two. Jesus invites each one of us to be yoked with him, to unite our life with
him, our will with his will, our heart with his heart. Jesus also says his
"burden is light". There's a story of a man who once met a boy
carrying a smaller crippled lad on his back. "That's a heavy load you are
carrying there," exclaimed the man. "He ain't heavy; he's my
brother!" responded the boy. No burden is too heavy when it's given in
love and carried in love. When we yoke our lives with Jesus, he also carries
our burdens with us and gives us his strength to follow in his way of love. Do
you know the joy of resting in Jesus' presence and walking daily with him along
the path he has for you?
In the Advent season we celebrate the coming of the Messiah King
who ushers in the reign of God. The prophets foretold that the Messiah would
establish God's kingdom of righteousness, peace, and joy. Those who put their
trust in God and in the coming of his kingdom receive the blessings of that
kingdom – peace with God and strength for living his way of love, truth, and
holiness (Isaiah 40). Jesus fulfills all the Messianic hopes and promises of
God's kingdom. That is why he taught his disciples to pray, "thy kingdom
come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven" (Matthew 6:10).
In his kingdom sins are not only forgiven but removed, and eternal life is
poured out for all its citizens. This is not a political kingdom, but a
spiritual one. The yoke of Christ's kingdom, his kingly rule and way of life,
liberates us from the burden of guilt and disobedience. Only the Lord Jesus can
lift the burden of sin and the weight of hopelessness from us. Jesus used the
analogy of a yoke to explain how we can exchange the burden of sin and despair
for a yoke of glory, freedom, and joy with him. The yoke which the Lord Jesus
invites us to embrace is his way of power and freedom to live in love, peace,
and joy as God's sons and daughters. Do you trust in God's love and truth and
submit to his will for your life?
"Lord Jesus, inflame my heart with love for you and for
your ways and help me to exchange the yoke of rebellion for the sweet yoke of
submission to your holy and loving word. Set me free from the folly of my own
sinful ignorance and rebellious pride that I may wholly desire what is good and
in accord with your will."
 The Yoke of Love |
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Wednesday of the
Second Week of Advent
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Father Walter Schu,
LC
Matthew 11:28-30
Jesus said to the crowds: “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 yourselves. For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.”
Introductory Prayer: Lord, you know the sincerity of my desire to
spend this time with you. As I begin this meditation, I believe that you are
here with me, that you never abandon me. Because I love you, my one wish is
to please and console you in your solitude in the tabernacle. I hope in the
boundless mercy that motivated your incarnation. May we one day meet again in
your heavenly kingdom.
Petition: Mary, you who are the perfect model of
humility, help me to be meek and humble like Christ your Son, who out of love
for me became a helpless infant at Bethlehem.
1. Who Is This Man? Who is this man who stands before us in this
Gospel—the man whose gaze has penetrated into the most secret recesses of our
souls and discovered what lies hidden there? A man who recognizes that we
labor, that we are burdened by the demands of life, weighed down by our sins
and imperfections, straining under the load of our passions and unfulfilled
desires. Who is this man who would dare promise what we have always longed
for in the inner sanctuaries of our consciences, yet never quite allowed
ourselves to hope for? Who could utter such a simple, gentle, and appealing
invitation, more than we could ever find ourselves worthy of: “Come to me…
and I will give you rest”? Who but God himself?
2. How Can We Come to Him? How can we accept the invitation of the one who
is God become man? How can we come to him? How can we attain what our souls
have longed for all the days of our existence? Christ himself gives us the
answer: “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of
heart.” He is so humble that he does not even wait for us to respond to his
invitation. He humbles himself so that he can first come to us at Christmas.
To discover how to turn to him with our heavy burden of selfishness and
unrestrained passions, we can first approach the manger where the King of
Kings lies so helplessly.
3. A Mystery of Humility and Love: Bethlehem is a mystery of humility and love.
Doesn’t Christ seem humble to you, reduced to the state of a helpless infant?
Without words or speeches he teaches a living lesson we need to feel with all
the intensity of which we are capable, allowing the consequences to spring
forth on their own. Can we imagine any other state in which the goodness and
humility of God radiate more clearly? Before this helpless child, who is God
Incarnate out of love for us, we are reduced to silent wonder. All vain
ambitions fade, all anger and bitter passion soften and all idle pursuits are
driven far from our hearts. The yoke that burdened us, the rod of our
taskmaster, is smashed and it is replaced by the light and easy yoke of love.
Conversation with Christ: Lord, help me to penetrate more deeply into
the mystery of your becoming a helpless and innocent child at Bethlehem for
me. Help me to grow in goodness of heart so I can radiate your goodness to
those around me.
Resolution: On my way to and from work today, I will
contemplate Christ meek and humble in the manger at Bethlehem. I will imitate
his loving humility in my own life and have the confidence to turn to him for
help with my failings.
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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 11, ADVENT WEEKDAY, MATTHEW 11:28-30
(Isaiah 40:25-31; Psalm 103)
(Isaiah 40:25-31; Psalm 103)
KEY VERSE: "Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest" (v 28).
READING: The prophet Jeremiah told the people that they would find "rest for their souls" if they would follow the straight path to God (Jer 6:16). But the religious leaders laid a crushing weight on the people by complicating God's law with numerous legal obligations. They made no effort to lighten the load of those burdened by these regulations, and they often neglected the true purpose of the law -- justice and mercy. Jesus invited all who were weary of trying to fulfill the law to come to him. Obedience to his word would be light in comparison to the religious leader's legalistic requirements. Jesus was the embodiment of God's law of compassion and love, and he made the way to God accessible. By taking on the light yoke of obedience to his word, Jesus' followers would find rest from all that oppressed them (Is 25:4-8).
REFLECTING: Can I help carry someone's burden today?
PRAYING: Lord Jesus, help me to rest in you when I face my daily struggles.
December 11, Optional Memorial of Damasus I,
pope
It was during Pope Damasus' reign that
Christianity was declared the religion of the Roman state by the Emperor
Constantine in A.D. 313. Damasus commissioned his secretary, St. Jerome,
to produce a Latin text of the Bible, known as the Vulgata Editio (the current text), because he used
the “the common" (vulgar) language in his writing. He also changed the
liturgical language of the Church from Greek to Latin. Pope Damasus worked hard
to preserve and restore the catacombs, the graves of the martyrs, and relics. He
expressed the wish that he could be buried in the catacombs with the early
martyrs, but he feared that the presence of one of his lowly status would
profane such an august place. Instead, when he died in 384, he was buried with
his mother and sister. Spend time today reading and meditating on Scripture.
Try to make this a daily habit.
O bless the Lord, my soul
When we are tired and find peace elusive, when we are in turmoil, agitated by fears and doubts, we may question and feel forgotten. Jesus, it is then that you are present, wondering when we will come to your quiet place and allow you to touch us with the strength of your Father. Jesus, you placed yourself in your Father’s hands. You trusted that the path he led you along was secure. The promise of his everlasting love carried you, even in the lonely darkness of your death. You long to share this hope with us. Your heart has room for everyone. Jesus, we come to you. Hold us in your embrace.
December 11
St. Damasus I
(305?-384)
St. Damasus I
(305?-384)
To his secretary St. Jerome (September 30), Damasus was “an
incomparable person, learned in the Scriptures, a virgin doctor of the virgin
Church, who loved chastity and heard its praises with pleasure.”
Damasus
seldom heard such unrestrained praise. Internal political struggles, doctrinal
heresies, uneasy relations with his fellow bishops and those of the Eastern
Church marred the peace of his pontificate.
The son
of a Roman priest, possibly of Spanish extraction, Damasus started as a deacon
in his father’s church, and served as a priest in what later became the
basilica of San Lorenzo in Rome. He served Pope Liberius (352-366) and followed
him into exile.
When
Liberius died, Damasus was elected bishop of Rome; but a minority elected and
consecrated another deacon, Ursinus, as pope. The controversy between Damasus
and the antipope resulted in violent battles in two basilicas, scandalizing the
bishops of Italy. At the synod Damasus called on the occasion of his birthday,
he asked them to approve his actions. The bishops’ reply was curt: “We
assembled for a birthday, not to condemn a man unheard.” Supporters of the
antipope even managed to get Damasus accused of a grave crime—probably
sexual—as late as A.D. 378. He had to clear himself before both a civil court and
a Church synod.
As pope
his lifestyle was simple in contrast to other ecclesiastics of Rome, and he was
fierce in his denunciation of Arianism and other heresies. A misunderstanding
of the Trinitarian terminology used by Rome threatened amicable relations with
the Eastern Church, and Damasus was only moderately successful in dealing with
that challenge.
During
his pontificate Christianity was declared the official religion of the Roman
state (380), and Latin became the principal liturgical language as part of the
pope’s reforms. His encouragement of St. Jerome’s biblical studies led to the
Vulgate, the Latin translation of Scripture which the Council of Trent (12
centuries later) declared to be “authentic in public readings, disputations,
preachings.”
Comment:
The history of the papacy and the Church is inextricably mixed with the personal biography of Damasus. In a troubled and pivotal period of Church history, he stands forth as a zealous defender of the faith who knew when to be progressive and when to entrench.
The history of the papacy and the Church is inextricably mixed with the personal biography of Damasus. In a troubled and pivotal period of Church history, he stands forth as a zealous defender of the faith who knew when to be progressive and when to entrench.
Damasus makes us
aware of two qualities of good leadership: alertness to the promptings of the
Spirit and service. His struggles are a reminder that Jesus never promised his
Rock protection from hurricane winds nor his followers immunity from
difficulties. His only guarantee is final victory.
Quote:
"He who walking on the sea could calm the bitter waves, who gives life to the dying seeds of the earth; he who was able to loose the mortal chains of death, and after three days' darkness could bring again to the upper world the brother for his sister Martha: he, I believe, will make Damasus rise again from the dust" (epitaph Damasus wrote for himself).
"He who walking on the sea could calm the bitter waves, who gives life to the dying seeds of the earth; he who was able to loose the mortal chains of death, and after three days' darkness could bring again to the upper world the brother for his sister Martha: he, I believe, will make Damasus rise again from the dust" (epitaph Damasus wrote for himself).
LECTIO DIVINA:
MATTHEW 11,28-30
Lectio:
Wednesday,
December 11, 2013
2nd Week of Advent
1) Opening prayer
God of power and mercy,
open our hearts in welcome.
Remove the things that hinder us from receiving Christ with joy,
so that we may share his wisdom
and become one with him
when he comes in glory,
for he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
2) Gospel Reading - Matthew 11, 28-30
'Come to me, all you who labour and are overburdened, and I will give you rest.
Shoulder my yoke and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
Yes, my yoke is easy and my burden light.'
3) Reflection
• Certain texts of the Gospel reveal to us all their significance when we place them on the background of the Old Testament. This is how this very brief and very beautiful text of the Gospel of today is. In this text there are echoes of two themes greatly loved and recalled by the Old Testament, one from Isaiah and the other one from the so called Wisdom Books.
• Isaiah speaks of the Messiah, the Servant and represents him as a disciple who is always looking for a word of comfort so as to be able to encourage those who are discouraged: “The Lord Yahweh has given me a disciple’s tongue, for me to know how to give a word of comfort to the weary. Morning by morning, he makes my ear alert to listen like a disciple”. (Is 50, 4). And the Messiah Servant launches an invitation: “Oh, come to the water all you who are thirsty; though you have no money come! Buy and eat; come buy wine and milk without money, free” (Is 55, 1). These texts were present in the memory of the people. They were like the songs of our childhood. When people listens to them, souvenirs come to mind, there is nostalgia. The same with the word of Jesus: “Come to me!” revived the memory and brought close the nostalgic echo of those beautiful texts of Isaiah.
• The Books of Wisdom represent the divine wisdom as a woman, a mother who transmits to her sons her wisdom and tells them: “Buy her without money, put your necks under her yoke, let your souls receive instruction. She is near, within your reach. See for yourselves; how slight my efforts have been to win so much peace” (Si 51, 25-27). Jesus repeats this same phrase: “You will find rest!”.
• Precisely because his way of speaking to people, Jesus awakes their memory and thus the heart rejoiced and said: “The Messiah, so greatly awaited for has come!” Jesus transformed the nostalgia into hope. He made people advance a step forward. Instead of fixing themselves on the image of a glorious Messiah, king and dominator, taught by the Scribes, the people changed opinion and accepted Jesus, Messiah Servant. A humble and meek Messiah, welcoming and full of tenderness, who made them feel at ease, they the poor together with Jesus.
4) Personal questions
• Is the Law of God a light yoke which encourages me, or is it a weight which gets me tired?
• Have I felt sometimes the lightness and the joy of the yoke of the Law of God which Jesus has revealed to us?
5) Concluding Prayer
Bless Yahweh, my soul,
from the depths of my being, his holy name;
bless Yahweh, my soul,
never forget all his acts of kindness. (Ps 103)
God of power and mercy,
open our hearts in welcome.
Remove the things that hinder us from receiving Christ with joy,
so that we may share his wisdom
and become one with him
when he comes in glory,
for he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
2) Gospel Reading - Matthew 11, 28-30
'Come to me, all you who labour and are overburdened, and I will give you rest.
Shoulder my yoke and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
Yes, my yoke is easy and my burden light.'
3) Reflection
• Certain texts of the Gospel reveal to us all their significance when we place them on the background of the Old Testament. This is how this very brief and very beautiful text of the Gospel of today is. In this text there are echoes of two themes greatly loved and recalled by the Old Testament, one from Isaiah and the other one from the so called Wisdom Books.
• Isaiah speaks of the Messiah, the Servant and represents him as a disciple who is always looking for a word of comfort so as to be able to encourage those who are discouraged: “The Lord Yahweh has given me a disciple’s tongue, for me to know how to give a word of comfort to the weary. Morning by morning, he makes my ear alert to listen like a disciple”. (Is 50, 4). And the Messiah Servant launches an invitation: “Oh, come to the water all you who are thirsty; though you have no money come! Buy and eat; come buy wine and milk without money, free” (Is 55, 1). These texts were present in the memory of the people. They were like the songs of our childhood. When people listens to them, souvenirs come to mind, there is nostalgia. The same with the word of Jesus: “Come to me!” revived the memory and brought close the nostalgic echo of those beautiful texts of Isaiah.
• The Books of Wisdom represent the divine wisdom as a woman, a mother who transmits to her sons her wisdom and tells them: “Buy her without money, put your necks under her yoke, let your souls receive instruction. She is near, within your reach. See for yourselves; how slight my efforts have been to win so much peace” (Si 51, 25-27). Jesus repeats this same phrase: “You will find rest!”.
• Precisely because his way of speaking to people, Jesus awakes their memory and thus the heart rejoiced and said: “The Messiah, so greatly awaited for has come!” Jesus transformed the nostalgia into hope. He made people advance a step forward. Instead of fixing themselves on the image of a glorious Messiah, king and dominator, taught by the Scribes, the people changed opinion and accepted Jesus, Messiah Servant. A humble and meek Messiah, welcoming and full of tenderness, who made them feel at ease, they the poor together with Jesus.
4) Personal questions
• Is the Law of God a light yoke which encourages me, or is it a weight which gets me tired?
• Have I felt sometimes the lightness and the joy of the yoke of the Law of God which Jesus has revealed to us?
5) Concluding Prayer
Bless Yahweh, my soul,
from the depths of my being, his holy name;
bless Yahweh, my soul,
never forget all his acts of kindness. (Ps 103)
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