Jesus promises to help His disciples carry their life burdens. Every Catholic man can grow in happiness by seeking the Fruits of Peace and Joy from the Holy Spirit and by building the Virtue of Prudence so he can prudently balance the many demands in his life and rest in Christ.
Liturgy
2nd Week of Advent – Wednesday – Mt 11:28-30
Commentary
Having revealed the blessings and power God the Father has given Him, Jesus offers to give peace and joy to every man willing to give themselves to Him. Jesus knows men’s burdens: the Son of God, at one with the Father at Eden, Jesus purposefully required men stuck in Original Sin to have to work to survive, so as to remind them of their dependence on God (Gen 3:17-19). Jesus willingly carries the same burden He placed upon all men at Eden through His many years of hard labor as a simple carpenter. Now, Jesus reveals that every man can be reconciled with God the Father and be relieved of their burden.
For relief from the burdens of the world, Jesus reiterates His exhortation in the Old Testament for men to pursue Divine Wisdom (Sir 51) but adds an incredible revelation: Jesus is Wisdom personified. He promises in His Divine Mercy to draw men to Him in gentleness, relieving the suffering of every man who seeks Him. To seek Him, Jesus invites every man to come to Him, to learn from His Wisdom and to take on His yoke of the Christian life; in this, Jesus promises men rest.
Jesus’ call for men to take on His yoke can fundamentally transform every man’s life. The yoke is the yoke of the Son, the way of humble obedience to the Father and the simple willingness to do the Father’s will. By taking on Christ’s yoke, every man can be intimately united with Him in the vocation of building up the Kingdom of Heaven. Jesus does not impose His yoke, but has given every man the free will to choose to give himself, or not, to Jesus. Jesus does not take away all of a man’s burdens but helps him carry out his duties in the world with joy and gives him the consolation of contributing to God’s plan of salvation.
Be awed by Jesus Christ
Marvel at how Jesus, the Son of God, lowers Himself to offer salvation to men: the perfection of Humility, despite having Divine Knowledge and Power, He takes on the physical burdens of Human Nature to reach, teach and save men; the perfection of Meekness, Jesus offers every man relief from the stresses in his life by simply being meek and asking for His help; perfection of Justice, He rewards men who repent from sin and seek His peace and rest, a Spiritual Work of Mercy (Comfort).
Receive and share the Peace and Joy of Christ
Realize: Knowing men suffer the burdens of the world (stress, overwork, oppression, physical suffering, conflicts with others, emotional turmoil), Jesus comes into the world so that every man can find relief from his suffering.
Believe: Reflect upon why Christ became Flesh (CCC 456-460).
Pray: Holy Spirit, give me the Fruits of Peace and Joy so I am better able to deal with the stresses in my life, and I generously share Christ’s peace and joy with others.
Prudently seek balance and rest in Christ
Realize: Jesus knows that men get out of balance with their work and other pursuits and He wants men to find balance and rest in Him.
Believe: Reflect upon the Need for Men to Rest (CCC 314, 337, 1193, 1720, 2042, 2172, 2184-2189, 2194).
Pray: Jesus, Perfection of Prudence, help me build the Virtue of Prudence so I rightly make it my highest priority to do Your Will, I make better choices about my activities, I strive to find balance and get sufficient sleep and rest, and I better serve You, my family and many others.