Daily Gospel Reflection for June 16, 2023: Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus

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

Reflection by Leslie Lynch

Today's Gospel: Matthew 11:25-30

“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 yourselves. For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.”

These are among the most comforting words Jesus ever spoke. Come, He says, and He will give us rest. Learn from Me, He says, and we will find rest for ourselves. His yoke is easy, His burden light.

I’ve always read this passage as requiring a somewhat passive response from me, but as I ponder it today, I see how much more Jesus is asking.

Come. Learn. Take His yoke—and exchange my heavy burdens for His light one.

I have to turn away from my distractions, take the steps to approach Him, enter into the dialogue of prayer, and meet the Word (Jesus) in the Word (Scripture).

I have to let go of my worries, woes, and guilt. (Might this be the hardest part? After all, I’ve had a hand in creating some of my troubles, and use them to limit myself. Besides, the unknown is scarier than the known, especially if the unknown is what Jesus might ask of me.)

Yet, meek and humble of heart, He waits with unfathomable mercy for me to take a leap of faith and bring my burdens to Him.

In return, He presents His yoke, which is grace and mercy and love, asking only that I abandon my attachment to self and ego, and surrender to His tender care.

On this, the solemnity of The Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, it is most appropriate to lay down my fear and embrace His gentle yoke.

Ponder:

In what ways do I resist or avoid laying down my heavy burdens rather than embracing the easy yoke of Jesus?

Pray:

Dearest Jesus, I desire Your yoke of love, mercy, and grace in my life. Please help me abandon my fears and distractions and take Your yoke upon my shoulders.

Click to tweet:
Jesus waits with unfathomable mercy for me to take a leap of faith and bring my burdens to Him, asking only that I abandon my attachment to self and ego and surrender to His tender care. #DailyGospel

Copyright 2023 Leslie Lynch

Leslie Lynch lives near Louisville, Kentucky, with her husband and a rescued, feral-turned-sweetheart cat. She’s written three full-length novels: Hijacked, Unholy Bonds, and Opal’s Jubilee; and two novellas: Christmas Hope and Christmas Grace. She is an occasional contributor to the Archdiocese of Indianapolis’s newspaper, The Criterion, and holds an MFA in Writing from Spalding University. Learn more at www.leslielynch.com.