Here we invite you to take time for yourself in personal prayer. The following spiritual reflection offers words and images which we hope will evoke for you an experience of God.

By: Sister Ruth Maier

“ I will praise God’s name forever.”

Opening Prayer

Gracious God,
in the rising of Your Son,
death gives birth to new life.

Let sin never ensnare us with empty promises
of passing joy. Make us one with You always,
so that our joy may be holy, and our love may give life.

We ask this through Jesus, the Christ, our Lord and Brother.
Amen.

Scripture

Matthew 25 – 30

At that time Jesus exclaimed, “I give praise to You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although You have hidden these things from the wise and learned You have revealed them to the little ones. Yes, Father, such has been Your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him.

“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.

Reflection

In this Gospel for today we find Jesus first speaking to His Father and then to the little ones, to His disciples.

He offers praise to His Father for revealing to Him the mysteries of the kingdom and to those whom Jesus wishes to reveal them. We come to know the mysteries of the Kingdom, we come to know the God of heaven and earth through Jesus.

Jesus then invites “all who labor and are burdened” to come to Him and He will give them rest.

Rest is part of God’s will for us. We need to take time away from our work to rest and to relax, to be renewed. Even God needs to rest. In the Book of Genesis we read that after working six days creating the world, God took a day to rest.

Jesus reminds us that rest is essential and refreshment is necessary for the continuing of the work of the kingdom, for bearing the yoke of discipleship.

What do we learn about God from Jesus’ prayer?
What are the burdens you need to bring to Jesus?
How will you rest in Jesus this week?

Closing Prayer

God of heaven and earth,
from the beginning of creation,
You rested on the seventh day.

Be with us as we seek to trust in You,
so that we will renew ourselves by resting
in Your Son, who lives and reigns with You
in the unity of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Welcoming the Holy