I’m a process guy. I try to observe things from a systematic,
organizational, and relationship perspective.
As watch the news reports, I am deeply disturbed by how our political
leaders, fellow citizens, and even fellow parishioners have chosen to respond
to the many challenging issues facing our nation and church. What is there to gain by name calling, mudslinging,
violence, and public refusals to dispense sacraments? Somewhere along the lines it seems that some have
lost the big picture!
Today’s reading by the Prophet Isaiah helps us refocus as he celebrates the power of God to bring the exiles from Babylon to Jerusalem. Nothing stands in the way of God, who “brings princes to naught and makes the rulers of the earth as nothing” (Is 40:23). “Before God all the nations are nothing. God counts them as nothing and void” (Is 40:17). The prophet invites the people to scan the sky: “Lift up your eyes on high and see who has created these.” (Is 40:26) Then the prophet challenges the people to cast aside their doubts and fears. Their comings and goings are not hidden from the Lord.
He concludes this beautiful passage about God’s love on a most practical issue. Knowing during Israel’s journey back to their homeland, the exiles will lose hope, grow weary, and faint. The prophet offers realistic hope, founded in the nature of the fidelity of the God who has called them: “They that hope in the Lord will renew their strength, they will soar as with eagles’ wings.” (Is 40:31)
Yesterday’s Gospel challenged the Church to imitate the merciful Jesus who goes after believers who have gone astray. Today’s Gospel highlights Jesus, the divine and merciful teacher. I approach this passage from three perspectives. The first comes from Sirach celebrating Wisdom’s gift: “Submit your neck to her yoke so that your mind may accept her teaching. For she is close to those who seek her … Let your spirits rejoice in the mercy of God.” (Sir 51:26, 29) The second is in Matthew 23 where the evangelist takes to task non-Christian Jews whose teaching is undercut by their failure to live up to their teaching. “They tie up heavy burdens, which are hard to carry, and lay them on people’s shoulders, but they will not lift a finger to move them. All their works are performed to be seen.” (Mt 23:4–5) Matthew’s point applies to all who do not practice what they preach. The third is the entirety of Matthew’s Gospel, which portrays Jesus as the compassionate and loving teacher, God’s Wisdom among us. Here Jesus invites us to “take [his] yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart…” (Mt 12:29)[1]
One-way of taking on Jesus’
yoke is by going out and finding the lost sheep. Our response to His invitation and in
cooperation with God’s transforming grace, we become a beacon of hope in the
Lord. May we never grow tired of going
out into the world to find those who are lost—while the other 99 rejoice.[2]
[1] Weekday HomilyHelps for Wednesday,
December 11, 2019, Exegesis by Robert J. Karris, OFM
[2] Ibid. Homily Suggestion by
Colin King, OFM
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