Daily Gospel Reflection for July 14, 2016 - St. Kateri Tekakwitha

Today's Gospel: Matthew 11, 28-30

In this Gospel passage, Jesus invites us to come to him and allow him to help carry our burdens. “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me . . . For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

What burdens are we carrying? Perhaps we suffer from worry about our children or our aging parents. Perhaps we have health concerns or financial worries. Perhaps we feel weighed down by unconfessed sin or an addiction we can’t seem to recover from. Jesus wants us to lay our burdens at His feet. He wants to help us. He wants us to rest in Him.

Yokes were made to fit well the oxen that bore them. The yoke Jesus offers us is designed to fit us perfectly, but picking up that yoke requires us to trust in Him, to submit in Him.

I have the image of Divine Mercy with the words “Jesus, I Trust in You” reminding me of that fact every day. Yet, it is still hard. However, even on the days when it is so difficult to trust, I can still pray the words. I can want to trust. I can want to hand over my burdens. I can want to rest in Jesus, and I can hope that His grace will take care of all that I lack.

Ponder:

When do you find it hardest to trust in Jesus?

Pray:

Dear Jesus, please help me to lay my burdens at your feet. Please help me to trust in you even when it is hard.

Copyright 2016 Patrice Fagnant-MacArthur

Patrice Fagnant-MacArthur is a life-long Roman Catholic, homeschooling mom of two boys and an adopted young girl. The editor of Today's Catholic Homeschooling, she is also the author of "The Catholic Baby Name Book" and "Letters to Mary from a Young Mother," and has a Master's Degree in Applied Theology. She blogs at http://spiritualwomanthoughts.blogspot.com