Mt 11: 25-30

At that time Jesus said, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and the intelligent and have revealed them to infants; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.“

Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

New Revised Standard Version, copyright 1989, by the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. USCCB approved. http://www.usccb.org/bible/approved-translations

Resilience in the Lord

One of Chicago’s favorite tourist spots is the famous Cloud Gate public sculpture in Millennium Park (Anish Kapoor: 2006). Its highly polished surface mirrors faces young and old, bodies skinny and fat, couples holding hands and kids mugging for an unseen camera. All around this large sculpture you hear the languages of the earth and see the world’s map in human form.

In terms of today’s gospel, don’t we all learn lessons from kids like those mugging before the giant mirror of that Millennium Park “Bean”?  The trick as we grow older is to maintain the openness and vulnerability that is so typical of young people of any age. It is this kind of deeper wisdom that helps us stay resilient before God. Resilient people live with open hands and hearts; they can change and adapt, stay sensitive and alert to the deep-down needs of heart and spirit.

When we become weary and find life a bit burdensome, Jesus invites us to be resilient and to learn from him, to take up his yoke, to know that we are loved. Amidst the messiness of our lives our souls do find rest. And, as we are able to put more of our lives into God’s hands, the yoke of the Lord becomes easier and his burden light through all the dyings and risings of our lives.

—The Jesuit Prayer Team

Prayer

Lord, when I need your solace the most, I too often seek comfort elsewhere. Sometimes I feel too weary, too overwhelmed, too anxiety-ridden too short on time to rest in you. And all you want is to bear my pain and lift me up. I must remember this. I must fill up my spirit by permitting you to be my God: “I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”

—The Jesuit Prayer Team