Going to him when we are struggling

Sunday 5 July 2026

Lectio Divina:*

Zechariah 9:9-10 Psalm 145(144)

Romans 8:9-13 Matthew 11:25-30

Meditatio:

‘Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest’ (Matthew 11:28)

 

Commentary:

We tire from striving. We grow weary carrying burdens that were never meant to be carried alone. In his Son, God comes to us not as a despotic ruler but as a gentle king and suffering servant who gives his life for his people. God remains faithful when all around seems out of control. Evil never has the final word. Some may say that we are on the wrong side of history. Yet human history itself finds its meaning within God's greater plan of salvation. God's desire for his people is peace, life and communion with him. This is the theme running through each of the readings, today.

In the second reading, St Paul reminds us that we do not carry our burdens by ourselves. The same Spirit who raised Christ from the dead dwells within believers. The Christian life is not driven merely by personal effort but by grace at work within us.

In today’s Gospel reading, Jesus addresses all who are tired, burdened and discouraged.  In saying  ‘Come to me…’.   Jesus is offering himself as an immediate and real friend of our soul.   Coming to a place or person or state of mind is the first step. It means going to something and someone greater than our immediate situation where we can be ourselves.

 ‘.. all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens’

It means coming as just as we are warts and all, worries and all and wants and all.  Specifically, it could mean putting aside special times and places where we can be still for a few moments. The morning can be a good time.

‘..and I will give you rest..’

The rest spoken of here is an inner freedom together with a certain underlying peace and contentedness even in the midst of great anguish, stress and sadness.  The peace Christ offers is not cheap peace. It is the peace that flows from his Cross and Resurrection.

‘Take my yoke upon you..’

Taking on the yoke of discipleship means dying/denying/losing in a certain way in regards to our own plans, opinions, terms of reference and ways of framing the world around us and within.  It means following a call to serve others in ways that we never thought of or expected.

‘and learn from me..’

Learning is about changing. Learning is about being open to experience, example and doing with others. It is not to be confused with teaching which may lead to learning. But not all learning (or teaching) are positive. A lot of learning can be about Unlearning.

‘..for I am gentle and humble in heart..’

The most powerful form of learning is that which is associated with the example of a teacher who is gentle, honest and humble because the One who exemplifies is a humble suffering servant foreshadowed in the Old Testament/Hebrew scriptures. The humility Jesus speaks of was foretold by the prophet Zechariah, who envisioned a king entering Jerusalem not on a warhorse but on a donkey. God's kingdom advances not through force but through self-giving love. Modern world leaders, please, take note!

‘..and you will find rest for your souls.’

Finding rest is the fruit of trust and abandonment to God’s will as it is revealed to each one on the path of life. How do we know when we find rest for our souls? This question is redundant when we find such rest!

‘..for my yoke is easy and my burden is light.’

Really? Following the high road of lowly service is counter-cultural and always was.  In what sense is the yoke of discipleship ‘easy’ or its burden ‘light’? It is the sense that by putting aside or purifying our plans and our wishes we find new plans and new wishes that release new depths and expressions of human creativity that we never imagined or dreamed of. The problem, too often, is that our world view and ‘wish-fors’ are small world shadows.

Trust him. Take the risk of placing your burdens in his hands. The rest he offers is deeper than comfort and more lasting than success. It is the peace of a soul learning to walk with Christ.

Some extras:

Collect prayer (Roman Catholic missal of 1970)

Father, in the rising of our Son death gives birth to new life. The sufferings he endured restored hope to a fallen world. Let sin never ensnare us with empty promises of passing joy. Make us one with you always, so that our joy may be holy and our love may give life.  We ask this through Christ our Lord.

Post-Communion prayer (Roman Catholic missal of 1970)

Lord, may we never fail to praise you for the fullness of life and salvation you give us in this eucharist.  We ask this through Christ our Lord.

Private prayer after Holy Communion

(from The Family Missal and Prayer Book of the Church of the Holy Spirit, Ballyroan, Dublin, 1976)

Lord Jesus, Son of the Father, you have come as our King, but humble and riding a donkey. You invite us to come to you.  By the power and nourishment of this communion make me like you, gentle and humble in heart. Keep me from being bad-tempered or harsh, especially at home, or with those in my care. Jesus, meek and humble of heart, make my heart like unto yours.