Easy and light

Gospel: Mt 11:28-30
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/121124.cfm

During the full duration of Jesus’s life, Israel was part of the Roman Empire. The Jewish people did not have a government of their own, but were captives of Rome. The Pharisees, or religious leaders, believed that this was caused by the Jewish people not fully following the law given to them by God. They believed that God had a covenant with them. If the Jewish people held up their end of the bargain, God would take care of them. God would give them freedom and prosperity as long as they followed God’s teachings. Since they were oppressed by the Roman Empire, they must not be right with God.

It is for this reason that Pharisees made additional rules and very strict interpretations of the Law. They monitored the actions and behaviors of the Jewish people and penalized them for violations. They surveilled and monitored their actions and corrected them because, in their belief, their freedom depended upon it. This is the world to which Jesus is living. Jesus’s message today is his response to this. Where they had hundreds of laws, Jesus summarized the law with just two: “Love your God” and “Love your neighbor.”

In this passage, Jesus referred to himself as meek and humble to juxtapose himself from the Pharisees who were arrogant and proud. As the Pharisee’s rules and oversight caused the people to be on high alert, anxious, and stressed, Jesus tells them that his way will give them rest from such things.

We too can find ourselves in a position similar to that in Jesus’s time. We have unnecessary persecution both outside and inside of ourselves. There are a lot of modern examples. With social media, we can often feel scrutinized by others. We may limit who we are around others in fear of judgment and condemnation. We may also personally impose ourselves with unnecessary obligations and rules that limit us from living a full, free, and prosperous life. God wants to take us past all this to experience peace and rest. We don’t need to fight for the love of God or prove our value for it is freely given.

Let go of your anxieties and your unnecessary obligations and find peace in God. Amen.