Daily Gospel Reflection for July 15, 2021

Join us as we reflect, ponder, and pray together inspired by today's Gospel.

Today's Gospel: Matthew 11:28-30

Today’s Gospel passage is only three verses long, but Jesus delivers a powerful message in these short lines. He reminds us that when we are weary (which is often, right?) we can lay down our burdens and pick up His instead because His yoke is easy and His burden is light.

If you’re like me, that all sounds fine and good, but how exactly do we lay down our burdens and pick up Jesus’s yoke instead? It’s not exactly like I can hand over my laundry pile or my paper grading to Him. However, I can hand over to Him all those worries and concerns that are weighing me down.

During the early days of the pandemic, Becky Eldredge, an Ignatian-trained spiritual director, author, and retreat leader, taught me a type of prayer called The Triple Colloquy that can be very helpful when we need to lay our burdens down. I’ll give you a brief summary of how this prayer works. Imagine you have a basket (or if you’re like me, grab a real one). Put all your concerns in that basket. Write them on paper, if you’d like. Bring that basket of concerns to Mary. Have a conversation with her about these burdens. Listen to her response, and then ask her to help you carry them to her son.

With Mary by your side, offer your basket of burdens at the foot of the cross. Now have a conversation with Jesus about them. Listen to how He whispers a response to you. Then ask Him and Mary to help you carry these burdens to God the Father. With Mary and Jesus by your side, have a conversation with God about how you can lay these burdens down. Listen to His response.

And then leave your burdens there.

Ponder:

What burdens are weighing me down the most, and how can I entrust them to the Lord?

Pray:

Lord, I am weighed down with many concerns. Help me to trust in You enough to leave these concerns at Your feet.

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Copyright 2021 Amy J. Cattapan