Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light

 

 At that time Jesus answered and said, "I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and have revealed them to babes.  Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight.  All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father.  Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him.  Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."  

 

- Matthew 11:25–30 

 

Yesterday we read that Jesus spoke to the crowds regarding both Himself and St. John the Baptist.  He said, "But to what shall I liken this generation?  It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to their companions, and saying: "We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; We mourned to you, and you did not lament.'  For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, 'He has a demon.'   The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, 'Look, a glutton and a winebibber, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!'  But wisdom is justified by her children."  Then He began to rebuke the cities in which most of His mighty works had been done,  because they did not repent:  "Woe to you, Chorazin!  Woe to you, Bethsaida!  For if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.  But I say to you, it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the day of judgment than for you.  And you, Capernaum, who are exalted to heaven, will be brought down to Hades; for if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day.  But I say to you that it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment than for you."

 

 At that time Jesus answered and said, "I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and have revealed them to babes.  Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight. All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father.  Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him."  My study Bible cites Blessed Theophylact, who notes that God has hidden the mysteries from the wise of the world, not out of malice toward God's creatures, but rather because of their own unworthiness.  It was they who chose to trust to their own fallen wisdom and judgment, rather than to God.  Moreover, it's out of love that God withholds the revelation from those who would scorn it -- so that they do not receive an even greater condemnation.  See also the rebuke of the cities in which Christ had performed His great works, in yesterday's reading, above.  

 

 "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."   Jesus' yoke is submission to the Kingdom of God.  My study Bible explains that a yoke could be seen as a sign of hardship, burdens, and responsibilities (1 Kings 12:1-11, Jeremiah 27:1-11, Sirach 40:1), but in Christ, the yoke is easy, for the power of God works in each person.  Furthermore, the reward is infinitely greater than any effort human beings can put forth.  The word for gentle here is the same word translated as "meek" at Matthew 5:5.  

 

 In many contemporary circles, discussion of healthy shame versus toxic shame is quite an important topic.  We often understand what toxic shame is, something that imposes a kind of burdensome judgment that impairs one's ability to function and obscures the capacity for loving God and hence receiving God's love which enables maturity and growth.  A healthy shame, on the other hand, is what we feel when we're conscious of being face to face with God who loves us.  That's a kind of shame that does not want to disappoint love, and the powerful reality of the good that calls us to something true for us.  In that case, a healthy shame would be one that does not want to fail to live up to the beauty of the soul that God says is possible for us.  Jesus speaks of His yoke as that which carries a similar context of love, grace, strength, and meekness.  This gentleness of which He speaks is the grace and love of God, who receives and loves us, and yet will instruct us in ways we need to grow and to go forward, goals that are worthy for us to have.  God -- in God's love -- seeks to expand our souls; at the same time, we need to seek to please and to love God, to find God's will, in order to find that enhancement and expansion of our lives toward the true, the good, and the beautiful in God's sight.  And this is Christ's role to us:  He will be the One who offers us His good yoke, the one that teaches us a healthy shame as opposed to the worldly manipulation that disregards our personhood.  Christ's yoke is that which guides us gently in the ways that are best for us, with the authority of the One who loves us and knows us better than we know ourselves, and who is the author and very Being of love  (1 John 4:8).  He is the One who is gentle and lowly in heart, and who gives us rest for our souls.  How can we compare that to the world that pressures us to conform and to submit, to accept an agenda that doesn't recognize who we are, and doesn't care to?  Christ's love transforms as it guides, it gives us a healthy discipline that we can develop and sets our lives on the right paths for us.  The light burden He offers is the responsibility we're capable of carrying and with which He entrusts us.   Christ's love teaches us mercy and gentleness, yet at the same time it asks of us that which God knows we are capable of giving, even if we don't have that kind of faith in ourselves.  Let us consider the yoke He offers, for we learn what love is through Him, how to love properly, how to have a sense of that healthy shame that knows that God is love for us.  

 

 

 

 

  

Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls

 

 At that time Jesus answered and said, "I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and have revealed them to babes.  Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight.  All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father.  Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him.  Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."

 

- Matthew 11:25-30 

 

In yesterday's reading, Jesus continued speaking to the crowds about Himself and John the Baptist:  "But to what shall I liken this generation?  It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to their companions, and saying: 'We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we mourned to you, and you did not lament.' For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, 'He has a demon.'  The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, 'Look, a glutton and a winebibber, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!'  But wisdom is justified by her children." Then He began to rebuke the cities in which most of His mighty works had been done, because they did not repent:  "Woe to you, Chorazin!  woe to you, Bethsaida!  For if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.  But I say to you, it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the day of judgment than for you.  And you, Capernaum, who are exalted to heaven, will be brought down to Hades; for if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day.  But I say to you that it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment than for you."

 

  At that time Jesus answered and said, "I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and have revealed them to babes.  Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight.  All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father.  Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him."  My study Bible cites Blessed Theophylact as commenting here that God has hidden the mysteries from the wise of the world, not out of malice toward God's creatures, but because of their own unworthiness, for it was they who chose to trust their own fallen wisdom and judgment rather than God.  Moreover, it is out of love that God withholds this revelation from people who would scorn it.  In this way they can avoid an even greater condemnation.  

"Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."  My study Bible explains that Jesus' yoke is submission to the Kingdom of God.  We don't hear this work yoke often in the modern world; a yoke is the wooden crosspiece that is fastened over the necks of two animals and attached to a plow or cart they are meant to pull.  So, a yoke can be seen as a sign of hardship and burdens, or possibly responsibilities which one must bear (1 Kings 12:1-11, Jeremiah 27:1-11, Sirach 40:1).  But in Christ, this yoke is easy, for, as my study Bible explains, the power of God works in each person.  In addition, the reward is infinitely greater than any effort human beings put forth.  This word translated as gentle here is literally "meek" as in Matthew 5:5 (see also the reading on the Beatitudes).

Jesus says, "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."   In the history of Christianity, these words are some of the most uplifting and comforting, inspiring many throughout the centuries.  If we examine that word gentle again, as we did in the reading of the Beatitudes, we read that "meek" and "gentle" do not fully give us the sense of this word in the Greek.  It is a word which links gentleness also to strength, in the sense that cultures have evolved to create an understanding of what a "gentleperson" is.  That is, actions marked with kindness and gentleness, avoiding harshness, but also appropriate to a circumstance.  In modern Greek, it indicates a kind of calmness.  According to HELPS Word-studies, the type of meekness which Christ evinces Himself and also teaches in the Sermon on the Mount is one achieved with the help of the Holy Spirit.  It indicates God's strength under God's control – i.e. demonstrating power without undue harshness, combining both reserve and strength.  As we are encouraged to imitate Christ, and to share God's qualities through the power of the Holy Spirit (the fruit of the Spirit), here He encourages us to come to Him, the One who can give us His rest and teach us.  While this indeed entails taking on a yoke and a particular burden, He characterizes them as easy and light.  Let us remember that we always have the help of the Holy Spirit for Christ's burden and yoke, and that whatever things we go through, there will be a spiritual purpose to be discerned, and out of which we may reap a spiritual harvest.  Learning endurance and patience, persistence and forbearance, are all fruit of the Spirit.  In the stories of the saints, we learn of gentleness and meekness, but these must be seen as our capacity to be resilient, equanimous, and not thrown off our keel at every provocation.   To have strength under control is the aim of historical spiritual disciplines such as fasting; Christ's easy yoke and light burden is the discipleship He offers us.  Let us take strength in His rest, and find our souls in it.

 

 

Blessed are the eyes which see the things you see; for I tell you that many prophets and kings have desired to see what you see, and have not seen it, and to hear what you hear, and have not heard it

 

 Then the seventy returned with joy, saying, "Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name."  And He said to them, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.  Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.  Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven."  

In that hour Jesus rejoiced in the Spirit and said, "I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and revealed them to babes.  Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight.  All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, and who the Father is except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him."  Then He turned to His disciples and said privately, "Blessed are the eyes which see the things you see; for I tell you that many prophets and kings have desired to see what you see, and have not seen it, and to hear what you hear, and have not heard it."

 

- Luke 10:17–24 

 

 Yesterday we read that the Lord appointed seventy others also, and sent them two by two before His face into every city and place where He Himself was about to go.  Then He said to them, "The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.  Go your way; behold, I send you out as lambs among wolves.  Carry neither money bag, knapsack, nor sandals; and greet no one along the road.  But whatever house you enter, first say, 'Peace to this house.'  And if a son of peace is there, your peace will rest on it; if not, it will return to you.  And remain in the same house, eating and drinking such things as they give, for the laborer is worthy of his wages.  Do not go from house to house.  Whatever city you enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you.  And heal the sick there, and say to them, 'The kingdom of God has come near to you.'  But whatever city you enter, and they do not receive you, go out into its streets and say, 'The very dust of your city which clings to us we wipe off against you.  Nevertheless know this, that the kingdom of God has come near you.'  But I say to you that it will be more tolerable in that Day for Sodom than for that city.  Woe to you, Chorazin!  Woe to you, Bethsaida!  For if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes.  But it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for you.  And you, Capernaum, who are exalted to heaven, will be brought down to Hades.  He who hears you hears Me, he who rejects you rejects Me, and he who rejects Me rejects Him who sent Me."  Then the seventy returned with joy, saying, "Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name." 

 Then the seventy returned with joy, saying, "Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name."  And He said to them, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.  Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.  Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven."  My study Bible comments that Jesus is describing an event which took place before the creation of the world.  There are five times when Satan set his will against God (Isaiah 14:12-15; see also Revelation 12:7-12).  Serpents and scorpions are symbols of devils and demons, images of the manifestation of the power of the enemy.  They sting with venous poison.  Note however, that Jesus teaches that we are to rejoice because our names are written in heaven.

 

 In that hour Jesus rejoiced in the Spirit and said, "I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and revealed them to babes.  Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight.  All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, and who the Father is except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him."  Then He turned to His disciples and said privately, "Blessed are the eyes which see the things you see; for I tell you that many prophets and kings have desired to see what you see, and have not seen it, and to hear what you hear, and have not heard it."  My study Bible describes babes as meaning people of simple faith and open hearts (see Luke 18:15-17).  

In this return of the Seventy we can read the great good news of Christ's gospel, and the effects of their ministry.  First they report their power (Christ's power, shared with and bestowed upon them and their mission) even over the demons.  But Christ's response to them becomes even more important for us.  First, they are directed to rejoice not over their power against the demonic, but rather because their names are written in heaven.   In this place of the kingdom of God is the greater glory and salvation found.  But then Christ goes on to give us greater reason for rejoicing; indeed, it is His reason for rejoicing and giving thanks to God the Father:  "I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and revealed them to babes.  Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight."  The text here asks of us to notice what great good news this is -- so much so, and we may even say stunningly so, that Jesus pauses to give thanks to the Father.  In this sense, we can call this a revelation of God, for even to Jesus this seems to be a new turn in His ministry, a new sign from the Father about how God's kingdom manifests, and teaching those who would seek to follow Him all about the true nature of God whom we serve.  For this is a God whose glory is defined by graciousness.  That is, not only by a shared power which the Seventy have experienced in their contact over the demonic, but rather in the wisdom and knowledge shared even with "babes."  For these Seventy are not exclusively those of the learned class or schooled in the formal schools of the religious establishment.  They are those "of simple faith and open hearts," as my study Bible describes them.  Let us note how Jesus has emphasized the gifts of the Holy Spirit already, as we read when He taught the Lord's Prayer (in this reading from chapter 11), saying, "If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!"  For this revelation of the gracious sharing of wisdom from God the Father comes not only as good news to us, but also as a revelation of the fullness of the authority bestowed upon the Son:  "All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, and who the Father is except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him."  And then we read Jesus' private comment to the disciples:  "Blessed are the eyes which see the things you see; for I tell you that many prophets and kings have desired to see what you see, and have not seen it, and to hear what you hear, and have not heard it."   Here is the glory and flower of this ministry, in Jesus' joyful -- perhaps we might say ecstatic -- sight, that His disciples who are "babes" have seen and heard what prophets and kings have desired to see and hear, and have not seen and not heard.  The great revelation of God in the world, through the ministry of Jesus Christ and these seventy apostles He has appointed, is God's gracious nature even to the humble and simple in the generous outpouring of the Spirit and the things of the Spirit, especially God's wisdom.  This is where we must also see God as light, for these things which prophets and kings could not hear and see are part of what it means to be enlightened, illuminated.  They are in this sense the great outpouring of God's gracious energies, the "light to enlighten the nations, and the glory of Your people Israel" (Luke 2:32).  If in this passage we are witnessing Christ's own ecstatic joy at this outpouring and enlightening even for the "babes," then what of us?  How are we joyful over such glad tidings, the good news of the gospel?  Do we appreciate what tremendous gifts we've been given? Do we glory in that light in the world? Can we cherish it as does He, and appreciate its worth?  Let us be grateful and live in that light, bringing glory to God as is fitting.

 

 

I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and revealed them to babes

 

 Then the seventy returned with joy, saying, "Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name."  And He said to them, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.  Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.  Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven."  

In that hour Jesus rejoiced in the Spirit and said, "I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and revealed them to babes.  Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight.  All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, and who the Father is except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him."  Then He turned to his disciples and said privately, "Blessed are the eyes which see the things you see; for I tell you that many prophets and kings have desired to see what you see, and have not seen it, and to hear what you hear, and have not heard it."

 

- Luke 10:17–24 

 

Yesterday we read that, as He has begun the journey toward Jerusalem, the Lord appointed seventy others also, and sent them two by two before His face into every city and place where He Himself was about to go.  Then He said to them, "The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.  Go your way; behold, I send you out as lambs among wolves.  Carry neither money bag, knapsack, nor sandals; and greet no one along the road.  But whatever house you enter, first say, 'Peace to this house.'  And if a son of peace is there, your peace will rest on it; if not, it will return to you.  And remain in the same house, eating and drinking such things as they give, for the laborer is worthy of his wages.  Do not go from house to house.  Whatever city you enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you.  And heal the sick there, and say to them, 'The kingdom of God has come near to you.'  But whatever city you enter, and they do not receive you, go out into its streets and say, 'The very dust of your city which clings to us we wipe off against you.  Nevertheless know this, that the kingdom of God has come near you.'  But I say to you that it will be more tolerable in that Day for Sodom than for that city.  Woe to you, Chorazin!  Woe to you, Bethsaida!  For if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes.  But it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for you.  And you, Capernaum, who are exalted to haven, will be brought down to Hades.  He who hears you hears Me, he who rejects you rejects Me, and he who rejects Me rejects Him who sent Me." 

Then the seventy returned with joy, saying, "Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name."  And He said to them, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.  Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.  Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven."   My study Bible comments that I saw Satan fall is a description of an event that took place before the creation of the world.  It says that five times Satan set his will against God (Isaiah 14:12-15; see also Revelation 12:7-12).  In the journey of the Seventy, and in the ongoing mission of the Church, this spiritual reality becomes more fully manifest in the world.  Serpents and scorpions are figurative images of devils and demons, included in the phrase the power of the enemy.  Note also that Jesus tells the disciples they are not to rejoice because of the spiritual power which He has shared with them, but because their names are written in heaven.

In that hour Jesus rejoiced in the Spirit and said, "I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and revealed them to babes.  Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight.  All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, and who the Father is except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him."  Then He turned to his disciples and said privately, "Blessed are the eyes which see the things you see; for I tell you that many prophets and kings have desired to see what you see, and have not seen it, and to hear what you hear, and have not heard it."  My study Bible explains that babes refers to people of simple faith and open hearts.  See also Luke 18:15-17, in which Jesus says, "Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God."  The "babes" become the standard by which adults receive the kingdom; that is, those who are not arrogant but guileless, and open to discipleship and learning.

 

What is a little child like?  What are "babes," as Jesus describes them?   In a comment on the passage in Luke 18 mentioned above, Theophylact writes, "A little child is not arrogant, he does not despise anyone, he is innocent and guileless.  He does not inflate himself in the presence of important people, nor withdraw from those in sorrows.  Instead, he lives in complete simplicity."  This kind of simplicity is not about being a "simple person" in the colloquial expression meant to imply that one's acumen is limited.  This is a kind of simplicity that is suggestion in Jesus' prescription for the conduct of the disciples, given in yesterday's reading, as He sent out the Seventy on their mission.  He sent them out, He said first of all, "as lambs among wolves."  They were to "carry neither money bag, knapsack, nor sandals; and greet no one along the road.  But whatever house you enter, first say, 'Peace to this house.'  And if a son of peace is there, your peace will rest on it; if not, it will return to you.  And remain in the same house, eating and drinking such things as they give, for the laborer is worthy of his wages.  Do not go from house to house.  Whatever city you enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you."  This is a command given for behavior that we could call "simple."  They were not to be ostentatious, carry nothing not necessary for the journey, humble enough to eat what was put before them, offered by the householders who would receive them, and offering blessings of peace.  This is a description of the behavior of "simple" people who are focused on the one thing necessary, the mission they're on.  It is a description that includes humility, an openness to learning, and maybe most especially, a full reliance on God's power in that mission.  Note that the power of their blessing of peace, its retraction from those who cannot accept it, rests solely with God.  These "simple" people sent on a mission are entirely aware that the power rests with God, the power of their efforts is reliant upon God.  So simplicity is in how we approach life, how we refuse complications that come from what we might call (in popular language) ego, a need for ostentation.  We might note, also, that this simple behavior includes kindness and graciousness.   From the time of the disciples' dispute about who would be greatest in the kingdom (in Saturday's reading), Jesus has been training the disciples on the need for an attitude of service and humility that must characterize stewardship of His kingdom, and His instructions with which He sent out the Seventy, and this gracious way in which He receives them on their return teach the same.  Upon their expression of the surprising spiritual power in their ministry, Christ enforces what their focus should be, secondary to power and authority:  "Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven."  After expressing gratitude to the Father that "You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and revealed them to babes," Jesus then says privately to the disciples, "Blessed are the eyes which see the things you see; for I tell you that many prophets and kings have desired to see what you see, and have not seen it, and to hear what you hear, and have not heard it."   The great figures of history, both prophets and kings, aspired to the places these disciples now occupy for their places, their mission, and their experience of the kingdom of God.  It is a reassurance  to them of the power of this kind of simplicity, the openness to the work and words of God, the capacity to learn, to be taught, and to be transfigured in the light of Christ.  This can only come through the simplicity and humility that keeps us in the place where we are ready to learn from God; it cannot be achieved through arrogance.  Highly poignantly, St. Paul's teaching on love also describes the character of such babes.  "Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil;  does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things" (1 Corinthians 13:4-7).  Let us endeavor to be the "babes" Christ calls us to be, those who are continually surprised by God.

For My yoke is easy and My burden is light

 

 At that time Jesus answered and said, "I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and have revealed them to babes.  Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight.  All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father.  Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him.  Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."

 

- Matthew 11:25-30 

 

In yesterday's reading, Jesus continued His teaching regarding John the Baptist (who is now in prison) and Himself:  "But to what shall I liken this generation?  It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to their companions, and saying:  'We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we mourned to you, and you did not lament.'  For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, 'He has a demon.'  The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, 'Look, a glutton and a winebibber, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!'  But wisdom is justified by her children."  Then He began to rebuke the cities in which most of His mighty works had been done, because they did not repent:  "Woe to you, Chorazin!  Woe to you, Bethsaida!  For if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.  But I say to you, it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the day of judgment than for you.  And you, Capernaum, who are exalted to heaven, will be brought down to Hades; for if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day.  But I say to you that it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment than for you."

 

At that time Jesus answered and said, "I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and have revealed them to babes.  Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight.  All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father.  Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him."  My study Bible cites blessed Theophylact, who notes that God has hidden the mysteries from the wise of the world, not out of malice toward God's creatures, but rather because of their own unworthiness.  That is, it is they who choose to trust in their own fallen wisdom and judgment rather than in God.  Moreover, such revelation who would scorn it out of love for them:  for to reject it would result in an even greater condemnation.  See yesterday's reading (above) and Jesus' condemnation of those places in which mighty works were done, but no repentance ("change of mind")  resulted.  Earlier in this discourse, Jesus referred to Himself as Son of Man (see yesterday's reading, above:  "The Son of Man came eating and drinking . . .").  Here Jesus adds a profound and explicit statement of authority in His identity as Son; the repentance which is lacking is the one which fails to grasp the gospel of the kingdom of heaven which He has been sent to preach.  The mysteries of God to which He refers are His alone to reveal and to withhold.

"Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."  My study Bible comments that Christ's yoke is submission to the Kingdom of God.   A yoke could be seen as a sign of hardship, burdens, and responsibilities (1 Kings 12:1-11, Jeremiah 27:1-11, Sirach 40:1).  But in Christ, the yoke is easy, because the power of God works in each person.  Moreover, the reward is infinitely greater than any effort human beings put forth.  Gentle means literally meek (as in Matthew 5:5 in the Sermon on the Mount:  "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth").  To be meek is not to be weak, but rather God-controlled; that is, to have mastery over one's own passions, especially anger.  That is, strength directed and under control.

 

 Jesus says, "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."   These are indeed comforting words; they are words heard throughout the centuries by those needing refuge, help, strength, and guidance.  If we think about them, and what it means to be "gentle [meek] and lowly in heart," then we understand that these are the words of One who is like a good father, a good brother, a good leader and protector.  If we haven't had such a figure in our lives, He can be that figure.  If we need those same skills in our lives (regardless of our gender), to be a good parent, a strong sibling, a good leader in family or community, He is our role model.  These are the words of one who knows how to use His absolute authority, which He has just declared by saying, "All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father.  Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him."  We have at once a supreme claim to authority, even to the judgment implied here.  But in the very next verses we have an image of what kind of authority figure this Son of the Father is, and how He uses His authority.  For those countless followers of Christ who have been comforted by these words, the image is one of the ideal figure of the family or community, one capable of great love, great strength, and great guidance and wisdom.  Most of all, the compassion of Christ still shows through in this declaration of authority, and the open hand that is outstretched through the words.  Those who labor and are heavy laden are those already under a different yoke of authority, that of the "prince" or "ruler of this world."  The very word for "evil" or "evil one" in Greek (as in "deliver us from evil/the evil one" in the Lord's Prayer; see Matthew 6:13) has at once these meanings of burdensome toil, oppression, and pain.  Jesus is the alternative.  He is not a competitor except in our own hearts.  But when we have had enough of the ways of the world, so to speak, His is the ultimate authority to which we turn and find rest and learning.  For those of us who experience this easy and light burden, this meekness and gentleness, there is no doubt about His words, and no substitution.  For in contrast to the world which demands a kind of onerous slavery and can practice a merciless judgment, His yoke is easy, and His burden is light. 

I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and revealed them to babes

 

 Then the seventy returned with joy, saying, "Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name."  And He said to them, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.  Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.  Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven."

In that hour Jesus rejoiced in the Spirit and said, "I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and revealed them to babes.  Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight.  All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, and who the Father is except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him."  Then He turned to His disciples and said privately, "Blessed are the eyes which see the things you see; for I tell you that many prophets and kings have desired to see what you see, and have not seen it, and to hear what you hear, and have not heard it."

 

- Luke 10:17–24 

 

Yesterday we read that after He had begun His journey toward Jerusalem, and sent messengers before His face, the Lord appointed seventy others also, and sent them two by two before His face into every city and place where He Himself was about to go. Then He said to them, "The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest. Go your way; behold, I send you out as lambs among wolves. Carry neither money bag, knapsack, nor sandals; and greet no one along the road. But whatever house you enter, first say, 'Peace to this house.' And if a son of peace is there, your peace will rest on it; if not, it will return to you. And remain in the same house, eating and drinking such things as they give, for the laborer is worthy of his wages. Do not go from house to house. Whatever city you enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you. And heal the sick there, and say to them, 'The kingdom of God has come near to you.' But whatever city you enter, and they do not receive you, go out into its streets and say, 'The very dust of your city which clings to us we wipe off against you. Nevertheless know this, that the kingdom of God has come near you.' But I say to you that it will be more tolerable in that Day for Sodom than for that city.  Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. But it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for you. And you, Capernaum, who are exalted to heaven, will be brought down to Hades. He who hears you hears Me, he who rejects you rejects Me, and he who rejects Me rejects Him who sent Me." Then the seventy returned with joy, saying, "Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name." 

 Then the seventy returned with joy, saying, "Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name."  And He said to them, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.  Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.  Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven."  My study bible tells us that I saw Satan fall is a description of an event that took place before the creation of the world.  There are actually five times that Satan set his will against God (Isaiah 14:12-15; see also Revelation 12:7-12).  This event that took place before the creation of the world is now something in which humankind may join through the authority given by Christ.  Serpents and scorpions are images of demons and devils.  Christ shares His authority with His disciples, these seventy, to enter into this spiritual battle against all the power of the enemy.  Nevertheless, He says, it is better rather to rejoice because your names are written in heaven.  The weapons in this battle are not conventional or worldly, just as His Kingdom is not of this world.  These weapons are prayer and following and living His word.

In that hour Jesus rejoiced in the Spirit and said, "I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and revealed them to babes.  Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight.  All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, and who the Father is except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him."  Then He turned to His disciples and said privately, "Blessed are the eyes which see the things you see; for I tell you that many prophets and kings have desired to see what you see, and have not seen it, and to hear what you hear, and have not heard it."  My study bible says that babes are people of simple faith and open hearts (see Luke 18:15-17).  

Christ's words in today's reading reveal to us the tremendous and awesome work of the Lord.  That is, humankind, those "babes" of simple faith and open hearts, now become the recipients not simply of spiritual knowledge, but rather those who are clearly deemed worthy of receiving what "many prophets and kings have desired to see, and have not seen it . . .  and desired to hear . . . and have not heard it."  What is spiritual battle?  What is rebellion against God by those angels -- unseen creatures -- who became demons?   These things are the stuff of countless imaginary stories, films, fantasies, and legends.  But the ways in which they are portrayed in the Gospels basically gives us an image of that which is destructive and harmful for mankind.  If we want to understand why there would be such spirits who have chosen this path, our faith gives us one simple explanation, and it is linked to the Gospel reading for today and Christ's words.  The explanation is just that human beings were created to participate in the kingdom of God as those who would receive such authority from Christ, and the angels were to minister to human beings in the long journey toward this end and the future of Christ's saving mission.  Of course, we can't know nor understand all that is unseen and a matter of great mystery.  But of the understanding that we do have, envy becomes an archetypal sin, one which continues to permeate the Scriptures, even to the death of Christ on the Cross.  If we take a close look, most of the conflict that surrounds Jesus has to do with the question of authority, and who is the greatest.  Jesus' response to the debate on this question of who is the greatest among the apostles gives us our understanding of the Church as something set apart, which is not supposed to be like the rest of the world.  What is the cure for envy?  Humility.  Ultimately, it is seeking to know the will of God and doing it that sets us in the right place, and leads us on that journey for the truly exalted place God has in mind for human beings.  It is through humility that we may be gifted with Christ's shared authority, through serving Christ that we see and hear what many prophets and kings desired to see and hear and did not do so.  Christ's mission to save human beings includes an extension of authority that turns the "powers that be" upside down.  A distribution of such authority to "babes" shows no regard for the power structures of the world, but instead infers a kind of egalitarian witness to true character and heart that defies all pretense and ambition, and places faith and love at the center of what makes up beauty, truth, and goodness.  This is the power of grace, the love of God that always seeks our love, that seeks to open our eyes and ears to the things we really need -- and to a picture of healing that includes in its completeness a particularly exalted spiritual place for human beings, if we but choose His Way, His "Road."  As Jesus journeys toward Jerusalem, He gives the disciples lessons on humility and grace, on receiving even the littlest as if they bear the face of Christ and of the Father who sent Him.  He will teach them service to all as that which makes one greatest of all.  He will teach about sacrifice, leaving behind even what is precious for the sake of Christ and the Church, and gaining lives they can't imagine.  Let us bear witness to what it is to carry that Kingdom into the world, and follow in their footsteps.  We enter into a kind of battle in an infantry of peace, an authority of grace, with weapons of faith and prayer, and patience and endurance, and conquest which bears more resemblance to sacrifice.  And until further notice, this battle waged for the hearts and souls of human beings continues.  Jesus speaks of His ultimate authority, and He is still looking for those friends to join Him in spiritual struggle, and with whom He may share it.

I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and revealed them to babes

 

 Then the seventy returned with joy, saying, "Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name."  And He said to them, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.  Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions , and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.  Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven."

In that hour Jesus rejoiced in the Spirit and said, "I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and revealed them to babes.  Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight.  All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, and who the Father is except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him."  Then He turned to His disciples and said privately, "Blessed are the eyes which see the things you see; for I tell you that many prophets and kings have desired to see what you see, and have not seen it, and to hear what you hear, and have not heard it." 

 

- Luke 10:17–24 

 

Yesterday we read that, as He set off toward Jerusalem, the Lord appointed seventy others also, and sent them two by two before His face into every city and place where He Himself was about to go.  Then He said to them, "The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.   Go your way; behold, I send you out as lambs among wolves.  Carry neither money bag, knapsack, nor sandals; and greet no one along the road.  But whatever house you enter, first say, 'Peace to this house.'  And if a son of peace is there, your peace will rest on it; if not, it will return to you.  And remain in the same house, eating and drinking such things as they give, for the laborer is worthy of his wages.  Do not go from house to house.  Whatever city you enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you.  And heal the sick there, and say to them, 'The kingdom of God has come near to you.'  But whatever city you enter, and they do not receive you, go out into its streets and say, 'The very dust of your city which clings to us we wipe off against you.  Nevertheless know this, that the kingdom of God has come near you.'  But I say to you that it will be more tolerable in that day for Sodom than for that city.  Woe to you, Chorazin!  Woe to you, Bethsaida!  For if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes.  But it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for you.  And you, Capernaum, who are exalted to heaven, will be brought down to Hades.  He who hears you hears Me, he who rejects you rejects Me, and he who rejects Me rejects Him who sent Me." 

 Then the seventy returned with joy, saying, "Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name."  And He said to them, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.  Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.  Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven."  My study bible says that I saw Satan fall describes an event that took place before the creation of the world.  It says that five times, Satan set his will against God (Isaiah 14:12-15; see also Revelation 12:7-12).  Let us keep in mind that serpents and scorpions are images representative of devils and demons, and so fall into this same category of spiritual battle and all the power of the enemy.  But even this victory over the power of the enemy, Christ says, is not what we rejoice over -- rather that your names are written in heaven.

In that hour Jesus rejoiced in the Spirit and said, "I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and revealed them to babes.  Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight.  All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, and who the Father is except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him."  Then He turned to His disciples and said privately, "Blessed are the eyes which see the things you see; for I tell you that many prophets and kings have desired to see what you see, and have not seen it, and to hear what you hear, and have not heard it."  My study bible comments that the people Jesus refers to as babes are those of simple faith and open hearts (see 18:15-17).  

What does it mean that Jesus rejoices over the fact that God has "hidden these things from the wise and prudent and revealed them to babes"?  I connect this statement with those that came before it, in which Jesus speaks about the power of God at work through the Seventy that he has sent out on an apostolic mission.  Jesus said, "Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions , and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you."  This is a sharing of holy spiritual power, and it comes not to those prophets and kings who have desired it, nor even the wise and prudent, but to the babes who follow Christ.  My study bible says that the babes are those who have simple faith and open hearts.  But we need to read this in the context of their relationship to Jesus.  In other words, their hearts are open enough, and their faith simple enough, so that they can perceive Jesus as He is, in His identity as Son and Christ.  In other words, it is the open heart and simple faith that allows us to truly see -- and to which God responds with revelation of God's power at work.  In modern times, how might we put this into context, and come to understand it for ourselves?  Many, if not most, of my readers live in nominally Christian countries, and come from cultures which long ago embraced Christianity.  How do we keep open hearts and simple faith?  How does one keep an open heart and simple faith when bombarded with news stories and social media eye-catching attention-seeking "musts" and "shoulds" all the day long?  How do we keep our faith simple and our hearts open when we're pulled in so many different directions -- from terrifying news stories, to outrageous and shocking media, to the latest celebrities climbing on bandwagons and drawing our attention in a million different directions?  The simple truth of the matter is that maintaining and open heart and simple faith is work, and perhaps we might characterize that as our central work as faithful Christians.  To maintain an open heart is, in effect, to cultivate a state of the heart that is open to the leanings and understanding that God wants to plant there.  This does not mean that we seek out special dispensations, or strange ways of practicing and cultivating asceticism, or engage in anything which is extreme or dangerous.  What it does mean is a careful cultivation of the peace we need to set time aside and pray as Jesus has taught us -- both in the secret place of our room (Matthew 6:5-6) where God who sees in secret, sees us pray in secret, and in liturgical services and traditional practices of the Church, built up through the centuries to help us shore up our faith and protect those "open hearts."  These are safe places to open up the heart, ask not just for God's blessing but also renewal and good direction, creating fertile ground for God's power and energies to be at work in the world.  Our open heart is the fertile ground for the seeds of the Sower which may bear an abundant harvest.  A simple faith is one that remains in that simple place of the open heart, in which it is just our bedrock of the love of God that sustains where our faith is, and remains the place we return when we're questioning or perplexed or cannot understand what the world seems to be saying to us.  This is the simple faith place where we understand -- just plain and simply -- that God loves us, and that in Christ we know the One who came here to die for us.  That simple and plainly powerful declaration of love that we truly know is the place where we take refuge for our simple faith.  It is the place where we know what we know, the bottom line root of who we are in this world.   

Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light

 At that time Jesus answered and said, "I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and have revealed them to babes.  Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight.  All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father.  Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him.  Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."

- Matthew 11:25-30

In yesterday's reading, Jesus said, "But to what shall I liken this generation?   It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to their companions, and saying:  'We played the flue for you, and you did not dance; We mourned to you, and you did not lament.'  For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, 'He has a demon.'  The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, 'Look, a glutton and a winebibber, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!'  But wisdom is justified by her children."  Then He began to rebuke the cities in which most of His mighty works had been done, because they did not repent:  "Woe to you, Chorazin!  Woe to you, Bethsaida!  For if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.  But I say to you, it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the day of judgment than for you.  And you, Capernaum, who are exalted to heaven, will be brought down to Hades; for if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day.  But I say to you that it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment than for you."

At that time Jesus answered and said, "0. All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father.  Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him."  My study bible cites blessed Theophylact, who comments that God has hidden the mysteries from the wise of the world, not out of malice toward His creatures but because of their own unworthiness -- it was they who chose to trust their own fallen wisdom and judgment rather than God.  Moreover, out of love God withholds this revelation from those who would scorn it so that they do not receive an even greater condemnation.

"Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."  My study bible says that Jesus' yoke is submission to the Kingdom of God.  A yoke could be seen as a sign of hardship, burdens, and responsibilities (1 Kings 12:1-11; Jeremiah 27:1-11; Sirach 40:1).  In Christ, however, the yoke is easy, for the power of God works in each person.  Moreover, the reward is infinitely greater, it says, than any effort man puts forth.  Gentle is literally "meek" in the original Greek of the text.  It's the same word Jesus uses when He preaches, "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth" (5:5).

Obedience to God is obedience to love.  This is submission to the Kingdom of God, in the words of my study bible.  Christ explains this yoke as easy, and the burden we take on as light, for He is not an abusive authoritarian ruler of violence; He is instead the God of love who Himself is gentle and lowly in heart.  Synonyms for this include "meek" as indicated above, and also "humble."  Let us consider what it means that we worship a God who describes Himself as having the personal characteristics of gentleness, meekness, humility.  It stands the reality of worldly power on its head.  It gives us a sense that what we worship, and what we seek to learn from, is all love -- a different way of being, a different kind of enterprise to learn about when Christ speaks of those who are meek who shall inherit the earth!  He stands what we "know" on its head, and in that light justifiedly tells us that it is a blessed thing, something to be thankful for, that God the Father, Lord of heaven and earth, has "hidden these things from the wise and prudent and have revealed them to babes."  So much so, that Jesus adds, "Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight."  In our worldly ways, we tend to confuse the language of obedience, submission, discipline, and sacrifice with that of the power of violence demanding submission.  But when we speak of God -- and in particular God the Father whose attributes are all shared with the Persons of the Trinity -- we are speaking of love.  The Lord of the universe is one who describes Himself as meek, gentle, humble, lowly of heart, and it is to these attributes of leadership in His sight that we submit in order to learn from Him.  For the graciousness of God is so overwhelming that all of our reaction should be as St. Peter's was when Jesus declared that He must wash the feet of the disciples:  "Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head!" (John 13:1-17).  The Lord of the universe is a Lord of love, who washes us in His love and prepares us to serve in that same spirit and, maybe most importantly of all, to learn that love and to practice it.  This we are not capable of doing for ourselves.  It is the "wise and prudent" who trust themselves to know what only God can reveal to us.  In service and submission, we find the healing and correction we need to become "like" God; it is in this Kingdom that we seek to participate and learn and grow in that love and to share it with one another.  Let us consider which yoke and burden we prefer, as we look around ourselves and find the abuse of power hidden among so many, regardless of the compassionate masks they seek to wear.  It is in God's truth and authority that we can trust instead.

Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls

 At that time Jesus answered and said, "I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and have revealed them to babes.  Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight.  All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father.  Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him.  Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."

- Matthew 11:25-30

In Friday's reading, John the Baptist's disciples had come to Jesus with a message from John (who is in prison).  After John's disciples had departed, Jesus spoke to the crowds about John, vigorously defending him (Saturday's reading).  In yesterday's reading, He continued His criticism, both against those who now judge John and those who fail to acknowledge Jesus' ministry, particularly among the leadership:   "But to what shall I liken this generation?  It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to their companions, and saying:  'We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; We mourned to you, and you did not lament.'  For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, 'He has a demon.'  The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, 'Look, a glutton and a winebibber, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!'  But wisdom is justified by her children."  Then He began to rebuke the cities in which most of His mighty works had been done, because they did not repent:  "Woe to you, Chorazin!  Woe to you, Bethsaida!  For if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.  But I say to you, it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the day of judgment than for you.  And you, Capernaum, who are exalted to heaven, will be brought down to Hades; for if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day.  But I say to you that it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment than for you."

 At that time Jesus answered and said, "I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and have revealed them to babes."  My study bible cites Blessed Theophylact, who comments that God has hidden the mysteries from the wise of the world, not out of malice toward God's creatures, but because of their own unworthiness.  It was they who chose to trust their own fallen wisdom and judgment rather than God.  Moreover, it is out of love, my study bible says, that God withholds this revelation from those who would scorn it so that they do not receive an even greater condemnation.  (See yesterday's reading, above, and Jesus' pronouncement about judgment upon those who witnessed mighty works and still rejected His ministry.)  

"Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight.  All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father.  Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him."  Jesus attributes all things in the surprising unfolding of this ministry to God the Father.  There is a particular relationship here that expresses our faith and that which will infuse the Creed and Councils to come in the centuries that follow.  Jesus states His direct relationship to the Father, but also how revelation works to human beings. 

"Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."  My study bible notes that Jesus' yoke is submission to the Kingdom of God.  A yoke could be seen as a sign of hardship, burdens, and responsibilities, it notes (1 Kings 12:1-11, Jeremiah 27:1-15).  But in Christ, the yoke is easy, because the power of God works in each person.  Moreover, the reward is infinitely greater than any effort human beings make.  The Greek word translated as gentle means power or strength under control, without undue harshness.  To be lowly in heart means to have a humble heart.  The same word is also translated as "meek" in 5:5:  "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth." 

 It's my belief that notions of courtesy and "gentleness" (as in a gentleman or gentle lady) come to us from the life of Christ and His teachings.  Or perhaps one might say that He sets an example to aspire to imitate.  This word in Greek that is translated as "gentle" or "meek" means, as noted above, a type of strength under control, one who does not lose his temper nor act with undue harshness.  This is in great contrast to the examples of power or "lordship" in Jesus' time, particularly in the great kings and rulers of the world.  He Himself notes the contrast between the power and authority of His Kingdom and that of worldly kingdoms, when He tells the disciples, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them. Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant.  And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave—just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many" (20:25-28).   Throughout the reading of the Gospels, and over the time of His ministry and preaching, Jesus "fleshes out" for us what it means to be meek and lowly of heart, to be gentle on His terms, to possess the kind of authority and strength that is of the Kingdom.  He lives the life He wishes to show us, from the beginning and to His death on the Cross.  He gives us an image of what that means.  To be humble and meek ultimately means that one serves God just as Jesus sets the example of total loyalty to the Father, a complete and powerful faith -- where even in the midst of rejection and what He knows is coming in His ministry, He accepts it all as given by the Father.  His is a "strength under control."  While He criticizes deeply those who reject both John the Baptist and Himself, and indicates the depth of judgment to come (especially regarding those who know better), His is the type of image we endeavor to follow, of strength under control.  He will do what He is commanded to do, to the death that awaits Him, for the greater good and the salvation of all.  The paradox here is that this understanding is given to the meek and humble, to "babes" rather than those given titles of understanding and education and knowledge of the Scriptures.  The wise and prudent have failed to grasp this ministry, and the knowledge they would possess is revealed to those who are like "little children" in their lack of formal education.  The Kingdom reaches where it will reach, and all is in the hand of the Father, and the Son who knows the Father, and those to whom the Son desires to reveal His Kingdom and His work.  The depth here is in the revelation of humility as the key to this Kingdom.  He seeks those who have the humility to serve His authority,  those who are like Him, "lowly of heart" and willing to live the kind of meekness He teaches.  This will inform the monastics to come, those whose discipline (as "disciples" or "learners") is to attain the heart that is capable of receiving Christ and that which Christ wishes to reveal to His children.  Let us remember, in this world of vast social media and the pressures it brings to us, what true strength is in Christ's sight, and how far humility goes to take us into the Kingdom.  Those proclaimed the "wise and prudent" of the age remain with us, and His easy yoke remains for those who know the value of the One who is gentle and lowly of heart.

Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls

 At that time Jesus answered and said, "I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and have revealed them to babes.  Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight.  All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father.  Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him.  Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."

- Matthew 11:25-30

In yesterday's reading, Jesus continued speaking to the crowd regarding Himself and John the Baptist.  He said, "But to what shall I liken this generation?  It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to their companions, and saying:  'We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; We mourned to you, and you did not lament.'  For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, 'He has a demon.'  The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, 'Look, a glutton and a winebibber, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!'  But wisdom is justified by her children."  Then He began to rebuke the cities in which most of His mighty works had been done, because they did not repent:  "Woe to you, Chorazin!  Woe to you, Bethsaida!  For if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.  But I say to you, it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the day of judgment than for you.  And you, Capernaum, who are exalted to heaven, will be brought down to Hades; for if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day.  But I say to you that it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment than for you."

 At that time Jesus answered and said, "I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and have revealed them to babes.  Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight.  All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father.  Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him."  The "wise and prudent" would be those experts such as the Pharisees who can't "see" nor accept Jesus' message in the signs of His great works performed in their midst.  My study bible cites Theophylact as noting that God has hidden the mysteries from the wise of the world not out of malice, but due to their own lack of receptivity:  there is a choice to be made between what one already "knows" and judges and the things God pulls us toward to reveal and to open up and expand our understanding.  Out of love, therefore, revelation may be withheld from those who would scorn it (7:6), so they don't refuse what would result in an even greater condemnation (see Luke 8:10).

"Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."  My study bible tells us that Jesus' yoke is submission to the Kingdom of God.  A yoke can be seen as an image of hardship or burdens and responsibilities imposed, especially by a harsh ruler or king (see 1 Kings 12:1-11, Jeremiah 27:1-15).  But in Christ, the yoke is easy, because the power of God works in every person.  Moreover, the reward is infinitely than any effort a human being puts forth.  Gentle here means literally "meek"  (see "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth," Matthew 5:5, in the reading of the Beatitudes).

Christ promises rest in learning.  "Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me" is a promise of growth into new things, gifts, mysteries.  We don't do this journey alone, and He shares His yoke with us.  A yoke gives us an image of two things put together:  two oxen pulling a plow under one yoke, for instance.  Christ promises that He is with us, and gives us rest in this place where we take on the yoke He offers.  All of it seems utterly paradoxical, especially given the typical traditional image of the yoke.  And yet, with Christ, this is the life He offers to us.  It is those who refuse it who lose out; they are the ones who are "wise and prudent" in Jesus' words, the worldly who seem to know the wisdom of the world, who go out of their way to scorn what He offers.  And yet He does choose "babes" to carry His message; the apostles do not come from the classes of those educated in Scripture.  What we come to understand is all about acceptance.  Do we accept His help, His guidance?  Are our minds open to what He offers?  Everything seems to come down to two things:  humility and the capacity to desire the kind of love He offers.  This is a love that invites us in to His world, His Kingdom.  It invites us in to learn from Him, to take on the yoke He offers.  It's not the yoke of a worldly king, but of one who is "gentle and lowly in heart."  It's not a yoke that invites our pity, but one that asks for our capacity for love and learning from Him.  It asks us for relationship and emptying, and it will take us to places we never imagined going, to challenges that stretch us out of our own "knowing."   It is in this learning and coming to know what He offers that our joy may be full.

Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light

At that time Jesus answered and said, "I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and have revealed them to babes.  Even so, Father, for it seemed good in Your sight.  All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father.  Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him.  Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."

- Matthew 11:25-30

In yesterday's reading, Jesus continued His response to those who scornfully look upon John the Baptist (who is now imprisoned) for his ascetic and rough life, and who have also criticized Him for eating and drinking with tax collectors and sinners:  "But to what shall I liken this generation?  It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to their companions, and saying:  'We played the flute for you, and you did not dance;  We mourned to you, and you did not lament.'  For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, 'He has a demon.'  The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, 'Look, a glutton and a winebibber, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!'  But wisdom is justified by her children."  Then He began to rebuke the cities in which most of His mighty works had been done, because they did not repent:  "Woe to you, Chorazin!  Woe to you, Bethsaida!  For if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.  But I say to you, it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the day of judgment than for you.  And you, Capernaum, who are exalted to heaven, will be brought down to Hades; for if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day.  But I say to you that it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment than for you."

 "At that time Jesus answered and said, "I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and have revealed them to babes.  Even so, Father, for it seemed good in Your sight."  The wise and prudent are those who criticize Christ and John the Baptist for their different ways of bearing the Kingdom into the world, their holiness that is not in conformity with the wisdom of the world, but strange and different -- each for different reasons.  In yesterday's reading, Jesus criticizes particularly religious leaders and compares them to playing children, who are dismayed equally that John is too ascetic and rough, and Jesus has sat at table, eating and drinking with tax collectors and other sinners.  So the wisdom and holiness of the Kingdom that is present goes unrecognized by the "wise and prudent."  Instead it has been revealed to babes.  My study bible quotes Theophylact as noting that God has hidden the mysteries from the wise of the world, not out of malice, but because of their own unworthiness.  They are the ones who trust their own wisdom and judgment rather than God.  God withholds this understanding from those who'd scorn it so they don't receive a greater condemnation:  to understand and refuse is to encounter a deeper judgment.  Jesus praises the wisdom of the Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for the surprising ways in which Jesus' ministry is unfolding.  He is emphatically pronouncing it good.  Other commentators such as Origen tell us that the "babes" are the Gentiles, unwise in the ways of the God of Israel.

"All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father.  Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him."   This is a profound theological statement, an understanding of Logos, the Son.  Whatever His mission, Christ has had it fully placed into His hands by the Father, and it is He alone who reveals the Father.  It is, in fact, Christ alone who decides to whom the Father will be revealed.

 "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."  Who are those to whom this great mission will be revealed, by whom it will be received?  Jesus invites those burdened with toil and struggle, and those who suffer.  What He emphasizes here is His own humility, an offering to the "babes" who are perhaps buffeted by the world.  My study bible says that Jesus' yoke is submission to the Kingdom of God.  A yoke, it says, could be seen as a sign of hardship, burdens, and responsibilities.  But Christ's yoke is different, it's easy because it conveys the power of God at work in each person.  And the reward is much greater than one's personal effort.  Cyril of Alexandria has commented that this offer is to everyone:  to the Jews who struggle in bearing the demands of the Law, and to the pagan Gentiles, who struggle with idolatry and the kinds of worldly power and sin it brings.  A yoke and burden also characterize language of kings in terms of the tax and tribute they levy on their subjects.

The harsh criticism and harsher reception that both John the Baptist and Jesus will receive is addressed in Jesus' speech here.  He speaks of being gentle and lowly of heart.  This sort of gentle is the type of "meekness" that doesn't engage in aggression for its own sake -- the ideal of strength under control and grace.  Christ's authority is complete, as He's also stated, but it's the authority of grace, of the Kingdom of God, of love.  To take on this yoke is very different from the worldly sort of power that demands adherence to its expectations.  Both John and Jesus will be murdered at the hands of the state, but both offend in particular the religious authorities and leaders of the temple who jealously guard their places.  I think there's a very canny and deep wisdom in Jesus' statement that He's gentle and lowly of heart, and that He calls to those who labor and are heavy laden.  This is not a call to the power brokers, the ones who call the shots.  It's a call from One who is gentle and lowly of heart to the others out there who are the humble of the world.  What He offers isn't something that appeals to those enamored with a kind of worldly power and status that will always have contempt for what is humble.  Jesus brings a Kingdom into the world that stands the values of worldly kingdoms on their head -- that offers a kind of love and grace that is inherently at odds with the "ruler of this world."   He will teach His disciples that to lord it over others is the opposite of His hierarchical structure.  Jesus' power is to heal, it's for community.  It draws in the excluded and seeks to repair.  It calls those by faith and by adoption who don't belong because of worldly status.  It's a voluntary kingdom, and does not coerce.  This is an entirely different sort of power to manipulative power.  It's the power of love.  It's not the power of shoulds and musts and political sloganing, and it's not the power of the crowds or mobs.  It's the power that comes through "gentleness" and humility, the wisdom that manifests through "outsiders" like Jesus and John the Baptist, and it calls to those who can see past the false promises of power that binds and manipulates and burdens for the self-glorification of others, and misses the glory of God who is love and truth.  It's in the contempt for the humble that worldly power is exposed, and Christ's life -- and death -- will surely play this out.  Have we got the heart to receive Him?