Gospel: December 11, 2024
December 11, 2024 (Wednesday)
2nd Week of Advent
Psalter: Week 2 / (Violet/White)
St. Damasus I, pope
Responsorial Psalm: Ps 103: 1-2, 3-4, 8, 10
O bless the Lord, my soul!
1st Reading: Isaiah 40: 25-31
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.”
Reflection:
“I will give you rest.”
In our time, war continues to escalate. It is sad. In many places, violence even enters the cultural realms. The hate culture seems to dominate the social media. In our everyday life, we tend to pick out and react violently when things do not go our way. Could we not just be a bit kinder even when facing problems and difficulties? We may reflect on the challenge on how are we going to face the daily struggles to the best of our ability and with grace. When encountering difficult trials in life, one of the first things which we may lose is our capacity to be “gentle” (praüs), unable to exercise kindness. In today’s Gospel pericope, Jesus summons us to learn from him for he is gentle and humble of heart. He further challenges us to take his yoke, for his yoke is “easy” (chrēstos) and his burden is light. The Greek adjective chrēstos, which may also mean “kind,” is used here. This implies that Jesus’ yoke is kind. He invites us to learn from him how to face our everyday struggles with grace and without losing our capacity to show kindness to others. The season of Advent is a time to exercise kindness.
