“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 your selves. For my yoke is easy, and my burden light. Matt. 11:28-30 ( NABRE)

TAKE A BREAK – REST WITH JESUS! Rest

can be defined as stopping work or activity. It can be a

state or a period of refreshing freedom from exertion.

We all need a place to go when life becomes a burden

and we need to take a break. One place where we

know we can find rest is in the loving care of Jesus the

Christ. When we stop trying to work things out entirely

on our own and make time to be with Jesus in prayer,

we find rest, safety and peace. Perhaps this week we

should take a break from our daily routine and take our

concerns to Jesus in prayer. Take a break - Rest with

Jesus.

In the first reading, the prophet Zechariah tells

the Jews returning from exile in Babylon to take a

break and stop worrying about the future. In this

invitation to rest, Zechariah predicts the coming

Messiah, Jesus the Christ.

Zechariah, Haggai and Malachi are considered

the last of the twelve Minor Prophets. They are called

“minor” prophets, because they wrote less than the

Reading I: Zechariah 9:9-10

St. Maria Goretti and St. Peter Claver Parishes July 9, 2017

Volume 1, Issue 30

Come to Me and I

Will Give You

Rest.

four Major Prophets. They returned with the Jewish

exiles from Babylon around 520 B.C. In verses 9 to

10, Zechariah tells the returning exiles to rejoice and

shout for joy because their king, the successor of

David who will reign forever, is coming to them. Like

Moses, who was described as the “meekest man on

earth,” (Num. 12:3) the reign of a just and peaceable

king would be reminiscent of the deliverer described in

Isaiah 11:1-9 and Genesis 49:10-11. His rule would

not be signified by the horse and chariot, which were

symbols of war and destruction, but by the foal of a

donkey, an animal associated with a time of peace.

Through His reign, Ephraim (Israel) and Jerusalem

(Judah) would be united once again and His dominion

would extend to universal proportions. This prophecy

was remembered in Mt. 21:1-11 which is read on Palm

Sunday. Zechariah told the Jews to relax from their

rebuilding and worries and predicted the arrival of

Jesus Christ. DISCUSSION QUESTION: What words

can you say to someone who is working under heavy

burdens and worry?

Reading II: Romans 8:9, 11-13

TAKE A BREAK – REST WITH JESUS! In

the second reading, St. Paul told the Romans to

take a break from a life in the flesh and live in the

Spirit. He emphasized that to be a Christian means

to put aside the sinful desires of human nature and

live in the Holy Spirit of God. Romans Chapter 8 is

said to have more references to the Holy Spirit

than any other chapter in the New Testament.

St. Paul told the Roman Christians to rest in

Jesus Christ, because once baptized, a Christian

receives the Holy Spirit which is the Spirit of the

Father and the Son (v. 9 see also Jn. 14:23). This

Trinitarian indwelling makes new creatures of all

who are baptized. But in verse 13, St. Paul

reiterated that those who live sinful lives will not

find eternal rest with Jesus. They will die both a

mortal and a spiritual death. (Rom. 8:6) The bare

truth revealed here is that whoever knowingly and

willingly rejects Christ and His teachings, once

accepted, will not gain eternal life. However, our

spiritual life is restored through the Sacrament of

Reconciliation.

Life in the flesh creates heavy burdens that

can rob us of eternal life. St. Paul reminds us to

rest in the Spirit of Christ given to us at Baptism

and to abandon the heavy burdens of a wayward

and sinful world. Take a break from the world;

Rest in Jesus Christ. DISCUSSION QUESTION:

What did St. Paul mean when he said that if we

live in the flesh we will die?

When do You Rest?

The Catholic Catechism Teaches that Sunday is a Day of Rest.

2168 The third commandment of the Decalogue recalls the holiness of the Sabbath: “The seventh day is a Sabbath of solemn rest, holy to the LORD. 2173 The Gospel reports many incidents when Jesus was accused of violating the Sabbath law. But Jesus never fails to respect the holiness of this day. He gives this law its authentic and authoritative interpretation: “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.” With compassion, Christ declares the Sabbath for doing good rather than harm, for saving life rather than killing. The Sabbath is the day of the Lord of mercies and a day to honor God. “The Son of Man is lord even of the Sabbath.”

Bible Study - 14th Sunday of Ordinary Time Year A

β

Monday

Read Romans 8:9. What does it mean to be

baptized in Christ?

Tuesday

Read Mat. 11:25-30. Spend thirty minutes in

silent prayer.

Wednesday

Read Romans 8:11-13. Ask someone you may

have offended to forgive you.

Thursday

Give financial assistance to someone in need.

Friday

Receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

Bible Study - 14th Sunday of Ordinary Time Year A Page 2

BURDEN In the New Testament several Greek words mean "burden." (1) baros, (βαṕos) “something heavy." Burdens of the day (Matt 20:12), the burden of duty to be borne, a difficult requirement (Acts 15:28; Rev 2:24). The burden of one's moral infirmities (Gal 6:2). (2) phortion,( φορτίον) "something to be borne." The obligation which Christ imposes (Matt 11:30); the legal ordinances of the Pharisees (Luke 11:46); a man's individual responsibility (Gal 6:5). Whether any clear and consistent distinction can be made between these two words is doubtful. Probably, however, phortion refers to the load as something to be borne, whether heavy or light, whilst baros may be an oppressive load. According to Lightfoot, baros may suggest a load of which a man may rightly rid himself should occasion serve, but phortion a burden which he is expected to bear, as every soldier carries his own pack. But most likely too much weight should not be given to these distinctions. (From International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, Electronic Database Copyright © 1996, 2003, 2006 by Biblesoft, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Resources: The Gospel According to Matthew, Introduction to the New Testament, Raymond E. Brown S.S. Doubleday New York, NY. p. 897; Romans John J. Pilch ; Collegeville Bible Commentary, The Liturgical Press, Collegeville Minn., p. 1088; Living Liturgy Spirituality, Celebration, and Catechesis for Sundays and Solemnities Year A 2014, Joyce Zimmerman, C. PP. S. Kathleen Harmon, S.ND. de N., Christopher W. Canlon, S. M. Liturgical Press Collegeville, MN. pp. 168-171; Scripture texts in this work are taken from the New American Bible, revised edition © 2010, 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Washington, D.C. and are used by permission of the copyright owner. All Rights Reserved. No part of the New American Bible may be reproduced in any form without permission in writing from the copyright owner; http://www.usccb.org/beliefs-and-teachings/what-we-believe/catechism;

This meditation is prepared by Deacon Terrel J. Broussard

for personal use in Adult Faith Formation at St. Peter Claver

and St Maria Goretti Parishes in New Orleans, La. ©2014

TAKE A BREAK – REST WITH JESUS!

Exhaustion can be fatal if left untreated. Complete

exhaustion is a condition that causes an extreme

decrease in energy. It generally stems from stress and

various diseases, such as cancer. Complete

exhaustion is often caused by mental stress, rather

than physical exertion. Mood swings and fatigue are

also signs of exhaustion. Since the dominant cause of

exhaustion is stress, relaxation exercises such as yoga

and anger management are prescribed treatments. In

other words, we should rest. The same is true

spiritually, when we become exhausted with the things

of life, we should rest in prayer with the Peacemaker,

Jesus the Christ. Take a break! Rest in Jesus.

In the Gospel reading, Jesus appears to be

resting after performing mighty deeds and miracles

that were not well received. He had worked many

miracles in Chorazin, Bethsaida and Capernaum and

the residents of those cities did not believe in Him

(11:20-24). The apostles and the seventy-two

disciples were the only ones who believed. He

compared them to innocent children because they

repented of all of their sins and decided to follow Him.

(v. 25) He contrasts their conduct with those of Jews

who glorified their own knowledge of Mosaic Law.

Their self-righteousness made it difficult for them to

repent. Repentance is made possible through the

grace of obedience. The reception by His own people

was discouraging. However, He found rest in the fact

that His Father, through His Spirit, revealed the truth

of His mission to humble people, rather than to the

proud and mighty. Verses 25 and 27 show a unique

autobiographical sketch of Jesus. They reveal that the

dominant characteristic of His incarnation is His love

and obedience to the Father. (See also Jn. 7:29). The

word translated “praise” and “thank” in verse 25 is

derived from the Greek word that means, to give

praise, consent and confess, (ἐξομολογέω - exomologeo (ex-om-ol-og-eh'-o) is a hint of that

divine character.

In these verses, Jesus expresses His unity with

the Father. That unity is expressed in His obedience to

the Father and creates a joyous Trinitarian

relationship. Jesus found rest in obedience to the

father. He offers this yoke, that is, His obedience to us

as rest from a troubled world (v. 28-30). Discipleship,

therefore, is based on love and obedience to a sweet,

gentle and merciful God. Jesus teaches us that much

of the stress, discord and dissonance in our lives

comes from disobedience to the Word of God. He

offers eternal rest through His example of obedience.

Jesus invites us to take a break and rest in Him.

DISCUSSION QUESTION: Where do you find rest from

the troubles of this world?

Gospel: Matthew 11:25-30 Pray About It!