A reading from the prophet Isaiah (40:25-31)
‘To whom can you compare me, or who is my equal?’
says the Holy One.
Lift up your eyes and see who created them.
He leads out their army in order,
summoning each one of them by name.
So mighty is his power, so great his strength,
not one of them fails to appear.
Why can you say, Jacob,
why do you proclaim, Israel,
‘My way is hidden from the Lord,
my cause is ignored by my God’?
Do you not know? Have you not heard?
The Lord is the God of ages,
he created the furthest ends of the earth.
He does not grow tired or weary,
his understanding cannot be fathomed.
He gives force to the weary,
he strengthens the powerless.
Youths may grow tired and weary,
young people stumble and fall,
but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength,
they will grow wings like eagles,
they will run and not grow weary,
walk but never tire.
God challenges the people: ‘to whom can you compare me?’ God is the one who creates the heavens; the stars appear at his bidding. God then challenges these exiles for their despondency, as they repeatedly claim that God is ignoring their plight. The response affirms that God is not only creator but also sustainer of the people. God is tireless, with more energy than the young, who still grow weary and fall. This means that those who trust in God’s power and will to save ‘will grow wings like eagles’. They will ‘never tire’.
Psalm 103 (102) The psalm too describes the qualities of God, who is forgiving, compassionate and loving, ‘slow to anger and rich in mercy’ (Exodus 34).
A reading from the holy gospel according to Matthew (11:28-30)
Jesus exclaimed: Come to me, all you who labour and are overburdened, 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 light.’
This is the second part of a speech of Jesus. The first part is a prayer addressed to the Father ‘Lord of heaven and earth’, in which Jesus thanks God for revealing the good news to the ‘infants’. In the second part, the verses of this gospel reading, Jesus speaks to those who ‘labour and are overburdened’. Jesus will, like the shepherd, lead them to rest. The God who never tires of leading his people to freedom is revealed in Jesus who is ‘gentle and humble in heart’, and who offers a yoke that is light.
What does it mean to be ‘humble in heart’?
The ‘rest’ of God is offered to all.