Author: admin

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Gospel: Matthew 12: 1-8

Jesus was going through a field of grain on the sabbath.
His disciples were hungry
and began to pick the heads of grain and eat them.
When the Pharisees saw this, they said to him,
“See, your disciples are doing what is unlawful to do on the sabbath.”
He said to the them, “Have you not read what David did
when he and his companions were hungry,
how he went into the house of God and ate the bread of offering,
which neither he nor his companions
but only the priests could lawfully eat?
Or have you not read in the law that on the sabbath
the priests serving in the temple violate the sabbath
and are innocent?
I say to you, something greater than the temple is here.
If you knew what this meant, I desire mercy, not sacrifice,
you would not have condemned these innocent men.
For the Son of Man is Lord of the sabbath.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

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Some say America’s legal system has a few backward laws that need to be changed – in particular, laws that restrict work and commerce on Sundays.

For example, in New Jersey it’s illegal to purchase a car on Sunday. In Massachusetts, it’s illegal to hunt. In many states, it’s illegal to purchase alcohol before noon.

These laws are known as “blue laws,” which were intended to protect the Sabbath, allowing Americans to rest and to worship on Sundays.

These days, only one-third of Americans find themselves in a church pew. Others are too busy attending sports games, running errands, cleaning the house, or working themselves to death. 

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Still, these “blue laws” remind us of the importance of rest, and above all, of worship.

This is why the Pharisees are angry in today’s Gospel. They interpret the disciples’ actions of pulling grain as contrary to the Sabbath – much like violating a “blue law.” 

On the Sabbath, people are only allowed to rest and to worship.

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Perhaps there’s still a word in that for us today.

Many of us lead busy lives – so busy that we can neglect our time with the Lord.

It’s why I post my “God minute” daily; not only remind myself to pray, but also to encourage others to do the same. 

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While “blue laws” may go out of style, our need to rest and worship never will.

So, when the sun rises on Sunday morning, where will you be?

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Image credits: (1) Redeeming God (2) The New Yorker (3) Rev’s Random Ramblings

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Gospel: Matthew 11: 28-30

Jesus said:
“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.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

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In Jesus’ time, farmers paired oxen together using a wooden apparatus called a yoke so that they could plow the fields together.

A stronger, more experienced ox was paired with a younger or weaker ox to help it plow. The yoke pushed the weaker ox forward, who otherwise might’ve given up when his muscles fatigued in the heat of the mid-day sun.

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Jesus likens himself to this stronger, more experienced ox who offers to plow through the fields of life with us. 

This is the good news! Jesus never gives up. He never tires. He’s used to the mid-day heat; he’s knows every field; he’s been through it all before. 

He’s plowed through the fields of suffering; the fields of poverty; the fields of friendship; even the fields of betrayal and death.

He’s plowed through them all and come out victoriously.

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What he offers us today is his wisdom, experience, and strength.

“Come to me, all you who are heavy burdened, and I will give you rest, for my yoke is easy and my burden light,” he says.

With Jesus by our side, we can plow through anything, even when the day is long and the heat seems unbearable.

If you’re feeling heavy burdened today, yoke yourself to Jesus. Perhaps the prayer below may help.

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Lord, you alone know all of the burdens that I carry. Often it’s the burden of family, finance, my future, my dreams. Too often I try carrying these burdens alone.

Not today, Lord.

Today I stand next to you, shoulder to shoulder, hand in hand. I am yoked as one with you. In the words of Saint Ignatius of Loyola:

“Take, Lord, receive, my liberty, my memory, my understanding, my entire will, all that I have and call my own. You have given all to me. To you, Lord, I return it. Do with it what you will. Give me only your love and your grace. That is enough for me.”

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(1) Today’sBibleVerse.com, @ 2012 Christian.org (2) Weak Ox – WordPress.com (3) RedBubble

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Exodus 3: 1-6, 9-12

Moses was tending the flock of his father-in-law Jethro, the priest of Midian.
Leading the flock across the desert, he came to Horeb,
the mountain of God.
There an angel of the LORD appeared to him in fire
flaming out of a bush.
As he looked on, he was surprised to see that the bush,
though on fire, was not consumed.
So Moses decided,
“I must go over to look at this remarkable sight,
and see why the bush is not burned.”

When the LORD saw him coming over to look at it more closely,
God called out to him from the bush, “Moses! Moses!”
He answered, “Here I am.”
God said, “Come no nearer!
Remove the sandals from your feet,
for the place where you stand is holy ground.
I am the God of your father,” he continued,
“the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, the God of Jacob.
The cry of the children of Israel has reached me,
and I have truly noted that the Egyptians are oppressing them.
Come, now! I will send you to Pharaoh to lead my people,
the children of Israel, out of Egypt.”

But Moses said to God,
“Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh
and lead the children of Israel out of Egypt?”
He answered, “I will be with you;
and this shall be your proof that it is I who have sent you:
when you bring my people out of Egypt,
you will worship God on this very mountain.”

The Word of the Lord.

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I will be with you.”

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We’ve all been in a position in life where it seems like we must do the impossible.

Think of the first time you laid eyes on your newborn child. How can I give this child everything he or she deserves? 

“I will be with you.”

Or the moment you show up for your first day on the job. You’re a teacher – a class full of twenty young children. Can I really teach them all how to read? 

“I will be with you.”

Or that malignant diagnosis, your first day of retirement, the moment you lose a loved one…or, in my case, the day of my priestly ordination. Can I really do this?

“I will be with you.”

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These five words – “I will be with you”– are the words spoken by God to Moses in our first reading. 

Moses faced an impossible task – he was called to lead his people out of slavery in Egypt into the Promised Land. 

He was terrified – he questioned – but the Lord spoke to him from the burning bush simply promising, “I will be with you.”

The same God who guided Moses guides us today. Whatever our challenges or trials may be, we can move forward in confidence, because the Lord is with us, whispering in our hearts:

“I will be with you.”

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Image credits: (1) Pinterest (2) God and Moses at the Burning Bush, Earl Mott, Fine Art America (3) Pinterest