Daily Reflection | Gospel Reading | RVA

Gospel: Matthew 11:28-30
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble of heart; and you will find rest. For my yoke is easy; and my burden is light.”

Reflections
“My yoke easy, my burden light.”
Yesterday’s gospel reading highlights the basis of Jesus’ credibility and authority. Now Jesus invites people to himself. He did not only say “Come,” but said “Come to me . . .” Emphasis is being made here on his person- hood. He invites people, who are burdened and harassed, and have rest in him. He invites them (and us) to enter into relationship in him. The key word here is “relationship.” Coming to Jesus is to enter into relationship with him in the Spirit. For it is only in such relationship that we can learn from him and find rest; it is only in this relationship that we find direction and strength. Outside this relationship, life becomes chaotic and burdensome. Out- side this relationship, we grope in the“dark.”But what is there exactly in the relationship that makes the troubles and challenges of life easier to handle: it is the un- conditional and unrestricted love of God flooding our hearts. When this love fills our hearts we begin to see clearly, and we see things anew. Furthermore, we are able to set our bearings straight.
© Copyright Bible Diary 2019

Gospel: Matthew 11:25-27
On that occasion, Jesus said, “Father, Lord of heaven and earth, I praise you; because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to simple people. Yes, Father, this was your gracious will.
Everything has been entrusted to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father; and no one knows the Father except the Son, and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.

Reflections
“Things revealed to the simple ones.”
The dawning of the kingdom of God reveals God’s plan of salvation enacted by Jesus in preaching, teaching and healing ministry. The gospel reading today establishes the credibility of Jesus as the “instrument of revelation and knowledge of God” (Brendan Byrne). Citing his knowledge of the Father and the Father’s knowledge of Jesus, he grounds his messianic ministry. Brendan Byrne commented that Jesus and the Father are “locked in a mutual exchange of knowledge.”This means that Jesus and the Father share a relationship of undivided unity. They are intimately one. And this is the basis of Jesus credibility as bringer of the God’s reign. It is grounded on his relationship with the Father.
Even in our time we can share in this relationship of love and knowledge of Jesus and the Father through the Spirit working in us. A prayerful life, a life lived in integrity and honesty, a life lived in service of all creation, humans and nonhumans alike — all these are concrete instances of sharing in this relationship. Participating in the relationship of love of the Father and Jesus (and the Spirit) will help us re- orient our lives toward things of authentic value.
© Copyright Bible Diary 2019

Gospel: Matthew 11:20-24
Then Jesus began to denounce the cities in which he had performed most of his miracles, because the people there did not change their ways. “Alas for you Chorazin and Bethsaida! If the miracles worked in you had taken place in Tyre and Sidon, the people there would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. But I assure you, for Tyre and Sidon; it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you.
And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted up to heaven? You will be thrown down to the place of the dead! For if the miracles which were performed in you had been performed in Sodom, it would still be there today! But I tell you, it will be more bearable for Sodom on the day of judgment than for you.”

Reflections
“People did not change their ways.”
In his commentary on the Gospel of Matthew, Donald Senior remarked that“The deeds of Jesus have the ultimate purpose of revealing the presence of God’s reign and therefore should lead to repentance.” In reference to the Scribes and Pharisees, Jesus emphatically denounced the Galilean cities of Chorazin, Bethsaida and Capernaum, where he taught and performed miracles. He laments the disbelief of the people, in spite of witnessing the dawning of the kingdom of God. They were resistant and blind to Jesus’ offer of salvation, and un- willing to repent. One could feel the anguish and frustration of Jesus over their response.
What could have prevented them from changing their ways of thinking or transforming their lives? Bernard Lonergan’s understanding of bias offers insights into this question. For him, bias involves the disregard of timely and fruitful ideas. It excludes that which may effect constructive results. If one operates along some form of bias, as in the case of those Jesus criticized, he/she would fail to arrive at an objective treatment of an issue at hand. If we cannot deconstruct or get rid of our biases, we will not be able to reach reasonable and correct judgment of reality or of a situation.
© Copyright Bible Diary 2019

Gospel: Matthew 10:34–11:1
Do not think that I have come to establish peace on earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother- in-law. Each one will have as enemies, those of one’s own family.
Whoever loves father or mother more than me, is not worthy of me. And whoever loves son or daughter more than me, is not worthy of me. And whoever does not take up his cross and follow me, is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life, for my sake, will find it.
Whoever welcomes you, welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me, welcomes him who sent me. The one who welcomes a prophet, as a prophet, will receive the reward of a prophet; the one who welcomes a just man, because he is a just man, will receive the reward of a just man. And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones, because he is my disciple, I assure you, he will not go unrewarded.”
When Jesus had finished giving his twelve disciples these instructions, he went on from there, to teach and to proclaim his message in their towns.

Reflections
“Take up your cross and follow me.”
Donald Senior, professor of New Testament studies at the Catholic Theological Union, defined discipleship as “taking up the cross” and following Jesus. But why taking up the cross? Probably, this is the ultimate test of discipleship — being ready to endure suffering and to loose life as consequent possibilities of loving Jesus and loving all that he loves. To suffer and to loose one’s life hit the core of human existence. The call of Jesus is radical in nature. It requires much because it gives all.
The Trappist monk in the movie “Of Gods and Men” did not abandon their monastery and the Muslim community where they live in spite of the threat to their lives. They could have easily evaded execution but chose not to. They were murdered in Algeria in 1996 by Muslim extremists. Taking up the cross means, in their case, loosing their life for the hungry and the sick. Our circumstances might be different from theirs. However, taking up the cross presents itself in various forms. We only have to be attentive to the Spirit to discern what it asks.
© Copyright Bible Diary 2019