'At that time Jesus said in reply, “I give praise to you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to the childlike. 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. The Gentle Mastery of Christ. “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 (Mt. 11:25-30).”'
‘I give praise to you, Father,’ is the way a typical Jewish blessing began. In his prayer, Jesus addressed God as ‘Father,’ told his disciples that had received everything from his Father and declared that he would reveal God to those who accepted him. Jesus gave God thanks for His divine revelation to the simple, humble people who accepted him. They have been offered salvation through God’s gracious will. Divine revelation is a way God reveals himself to others. It is a religious mystery. All are offered God’s grace and salvation but not all experience divine revelation.
Jesus revealed the unique relationship between he and His Father. Jesus knows God and is doing God's will. Jesus offers rest and comfort to all who labor. The Law cannot do that. He told his disciples to let him teach them. Disciples of Jesus should be life-long students and Jesus is both the teacher and the subject of his teaching. He is the model teacher because he is humble and compassionate, gentle and lowly of heart (Mt. 5:5; Ps. 37:11), and his teaching will lead his disciples to the Kingdom of God. The Law with all of its petty regulations cannot offer what Jesus offers (Acts 15:10). Jesus’ teaching was easier than the teaching of the Pharisees because it was less burdensome than the Torah (yoke) and was centered on the essentials for salvation. However, the teaching of Jesus is harder because it demands love of God and love of neighbor.
Almighty God, grant us the grace to follow the teachings of your Son and not be crushed by our burdens. Give us simple, loving, gentle, and patient hearts so that we may enter into Jesus’ rest and be led to the kingdom of God. This we pray through Christ our Lord. Amen!
References:
Raymond E. Brown, Joseph A. Fitzmyer, & Roland E. Murphy, (Eds.). (1990, 1968). The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey: Prentis Hall, Inc.
Jose M. Casciaro, Santiago Ausin, Gonzalo Aranda, Claudio Basevi, Vincente Balaguer, Francisco Varo, James Gavigan, Brian McCarthy & Thomas McGovern (Eds.). (2017). The Navarre Bible - New Testament. Dublin 8, Ireland: Four Courts Press.
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