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. (Matthew 11:28-30 NABRE)
Jesus' reference to those who labor and are burdened is a direct reference to those burdened by the law as expounded by the scribes and Pharisees (see Matthew 23:4).*
In place of the yoke of the law, complicated by scribal interpretation, Jesus invites the burdened to take the yoke of obedience to his word, under which they will find rest.*
An interesting side note: These verses are peculiar to Matthew and are similar to Ben Sirach’s invitation to learn wisdom and submit to her yoke (see Sirach 51:23, 26).*
Today, I will seek rest in Jesus' burden.
Saint Kateri Tekakwitha, who said: “I am not my own; I have given myself to Jesus," pray for us.
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