"Come To ME, All You Who Are Weary And Burdened, And I Will Give You Rest."

"Come to ME, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take MY yoke upon you and learn from ME, for I AM gentle and humble of heart; and you will find rest.  For MY yoke is easy; and MY burden is light." - Matthew 11:28-30 

(Come to ME: I will not relieve you of your load but by placing MY yoke on you, I give you the means of carrying the load. 

JESUS plays with the two words yoke and load, for the Jews used to call "load" the divine teachings imparted to pupils, and yoke the balancing of the teacher's sentences, which should be learned by heart.

JESUS, the patient and humble teacher, enables us to see the mercy of GOD in our lives and in our own cross.  HE shows us the love of GOD even in the requirements of the law.  Only GOD is good; and good is the authority of CHRIST.) 

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Everything Has Been Entrusted To ME

"On that occasion JESUS said, 'FATHER, LORD of heaven and earth, I praise YOU, because YOU have hidden these things from the wise and learned and revealed them to simple people.  Yes, FATHER, this is what pleased YOU.

Everything has been entrusted to ME by MY FATHER.  No one knows the SON except the FATHER, and no one knows the FATHER except the SON and those to whom the SON chooses to reveal HIM'." - Matthew 11:25-27  

(JESUS prayer impressed the disciples.  In this text it is a short prayer, prompted by the most recent events; events and daily life are also a source of prayer.

YOU have hidden these things.  Intelligent people are not excluded from the faith, of course, but it is the glory of GOD that faith should not seem to be the privilege of the wise and the intelligent; human wisdom never gives what is essential and often hides it.  There were in Palestine at the time some wise people and many others who pretended to be so, but they were rarely seen among the disciples of JESUS.

Everything has been entrusted to ME.  GOD does what is needed for people to have always and in all places thousands of ways of knowing HIM.  In this life it is only through JESUS that we have the revelation of the FATHER.)

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Chorazin And Bethsaida

"Then JESUS began to denounce the cities in which HE had performed most of HIS miracles, because the people there did not change their ways.  Alas for you Chorazin and Bethsaida!  If the miracles worked in you had taken place in Tyre and Sidon, the people there would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.  But I assure you, for Tyre and Sidon it will be more bearable on the day of judgment than for you.  And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted up to heaven?  You will be thrown down to the place of the dead!  For if the miracles which were performed in you had taken place in Sodom, it would still be there today!  But I tell you, it will be more bearable for Sodom on the day of judgment than for you." - Matthew 11:20-24 

(Chorazin and Bethsaida: these two cities were the seats of higher schools of religion but had not received the Gospel.  Tyre and Sidon: two pagan cities, cursed by the prophets.)

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"Whoever Does Not Take Up His Cross And Follow ME, Is Not Worthy Of ME."

"Whoever loves father or mother more than ME, is not worthy of ME.  And whoever loves son or daughter more than ME, is not worthy of ME.  And whoever does not take up his cross and follow ME, is not worthy of ME.  Whoever finds his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life, for MY sake, will find it.

Whoever welcomes you, welcomes ME; and whoever welcomes ME, welcomes HIM who sent ME.  The one who welcomes a prophet, as a prophet, will receive the reward of a prophet; the one who welcomes a just man, because he is a just man, will receive the reward of a just man.  And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones, because he is MY disciple, I assure you, he will not go unrewarded." - Matthew 10:37-42 

(JESUS addresses this to others besides missionaries or persons with an exceptional mission.  Each one must break away from forms of dependency within the family, which do not nurture the human and spiritual growth of the members.  One who loves CHRIST finds a thousand and one opportunities to free himself from activities, entertainments and worries about his own family, which keep both him and the family at a mediocre level.)

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The Parable Of The Sower

"That same day, JESUS left the house and sat down by the lakeside.  Many people gathered around HIM.  So, HE got into a boat, and sat down, while the crowds stood on the shore; and HE spoke to them in parables about many things.

JESUS said, 'The Sower went out to sow; and, as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path; and the birds came and ate them up.  Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where there was little soil, and the seeds sprouted quickly, because the soil was not deep.  But as soon as the sun rose, the plants were scorched; and they withered, because they had no roots.  Again, other seeds fell among thistles; and the thistles grew and choked the plants.  Still, other seeds fell on good soil and produced a crop: some hundredfold, others sixty, and others thirty.  If you have ears, then hear!'" - Matthew 13:1-9 

(JESUS uses comparisons just as simple country folk and working people usually do.  Proverbs and parables have always been an effective way of teaching wisdom.  But we must observe that a parable is not just any comparison; its characteristic is to awaken in the listeners an awareness of their present situation and oblige them to make a decision.

For those listening to JESUS, the reign of GOD signified first of all a liberation of HIS oppressed people, and this called for clear explanation.  JESUS, for HIS part, could only give an answer to those who accompanied HIM; for the kingdom is one of those things that cannot be seen as long as one has no belief in it.  JESUS will only speak of it in images and we will understand according to the degree of our experience of that kingdom which is developing throughout the world.)

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"Do Not Fear!"

"Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but have no power to kill the soul.  Rather be afraid of HIM who can destroy both body and soul in hell.  For only a few cents you can buy two sparrows, yet not one sparrow falls to the ground without your FATHER's consent.  As for you, every hair of your head has been counted.  So do not be afraid: you are worth much more than many sparrows." - Matthew 10:28-31  

(We are cowards and JESUS is aware of this.  HE has already said, "Do not fear," when HE invited us not to look for security in money.  Now, dealing with the fear of repression, HE adds, "If you cannot free yourselves from cowardice, consider where the greater threat comes from, GOD or people?

This is the only time JESUS refers to "fear of GOD."  When the Old Testament mentioned fear of GOD, it generally meant giving due respect to GOD.  Respect is far from fear.  Respect is an attitude proper to a free person.  GOD does not threaten to throw us into hell; rather HE reminds us that to lose HIM is to lose ourselves also, and this is hell.)

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You Will Be Persecuted

"Look, I send you out like sheep among wolves.  You must be as clever as snakes and as innocent as doves.  Be on your guard with people, for they will hand you over to their courts, and they will flog you in their synagogues.  You will be brought to trial before rulers and kings because of ME, so that you may witness to them and the pagans.

But when you are arrested, do not worry about what you are to say, or how you are to say it; when the hour comes, you will be given what you are to say.  For it will not be you who speak, but the Spirit of your FATHER, speaking through you.

Brother will hand over his brother to death, and a father his child; children will turn against their parents and have them put to death.  Everyone will hate you because of ME, but whoever stands firm to the end will be saved. 

When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next.  I tell you the truth, you will not have passed through all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes." - Matthew 10:16-23  

(Maybe we must recognize that martyrdom is a grace and is not given to everyone.  Many would be ready to give their life for CHRIST, but confronted with situations of violence or corruption, they do not see the necessity to expose a scandal and so submit in order to avoid the worst.  Others, on the contrary, understand that GOD is asking them to witness to the Good News that is opposite to what is imposed.  In so doing they face the repression by which Society defends itself.  Revelation affirms that the murder of witnesses advances Salvation History.)

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Freely Have You Received, Freely Give!

"Go and proclaim this message:  The kingdom of heaven is near.  Heal the sick, bring the dead back to life, cleanse the lepers, and drive out demons.  Freely have you received, freely give.  Do not carry any gold or silver or money in your purses.  Do not take a traveling bag, or an extra shirt, or sandals, or a walking stick: workers deserve to be compensated.

When you come to a town or a village, look for a worthy person, and stay there until you leave.

When you enter the house, wish it peace.  If the people are worthy people, your peace will rest on them; if they are not worthy people, your blessing will come back to you.

And if you are not welcomed, and your words are not listened to, leave that house or that town, and shake the dust off your feet.  I assure you, it will go easier for the people of Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment, than it will for the people of that town." - Matthew 10:7-15  

(To reject the messengers is to ignore the call of the FATHER and to lose the greatest opportunity of one's life.)

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JESUS Sends Out The First Missionaries

"Go and proclaim this message: The kingdom of heaven is near.  Heal the sick, bring the dead back to life, cleanse the lepers, and drive out demons.  You received this as a gift, so give it as a gift.  Do not carry any gold, silver or copper in your purses.  Do not carry a traveler's bag, or an extra shirt, or sandals, or walking stick: workers deserve their living.

When you come to a town or a village, look for a worthy person and stay there until you leave.

As you enter the house, wish it peace.  If the people in the house deserve it your peace will be on them; if they do not deserve it, your blessing will come back to you.

And if you are not welcomed and your words are not listened to, leave that house or that town and shake the dust off your feet.  I assure you; it will go easier for the people of Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment that it will for the people of that town." - Matthew 10:7-15

(The successors of the apostles will be missionaries like them.  They will not be primarily the administrators of an established Church, but living poorly among them the poor, they will establish new Churches.  This new chapter will speak of a mission, the major responsibility of a Christian community.) 

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"The Harvest Is Abundant, But The Workers Are Only Few."

"As they were going away, some people brought to JESUS a man who was dumb, because he was possessed by a demon.  When the demon was driven out, the dumb man began to speak.  The crowds were astonished and said, 'Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel.'  But the Pharisees said, 'HE drives away demons with the help of the prince of demons.'

JESUS went around all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom; and HE cured every sickness and disease.  When HE saw the crowds, HE was moved with pity; for they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.  Then HE said to HIS disciples, 'The harvest is abundant, but the workers are only few.  Ask the master of the harvest to send workers to gather his harvest.'" - Matthew 9:32-38  

(With this paragraph that briefly summarizes the ministry of JESUS in Galilee, Matthew intends to show that indeed the kingdom of GOD is there: evil has been given a fatal blow.

HE was moved with pity, because they were like sheep without a shepherd.  See Numbers 27:17; Ezekiel 34:5; Zechariah 10:3; John 4:35; Mark 6:34; and Luke 10:2.

JESUS asks each of us to serve humankind with our own talents.  HE needs also workers for the harvest of the kingdom, that is, to gather into the Church those who receive a call from GOD.  "Pray," says JESUS, "and you will perhaps hear GOD's call."

Of course, each Christian community prays to GOD and the Spirit brings forth the charisms and ministers and pastors that are needed.  Here JESUS asks us to pray for workers in the mission field: they are and always will be too few, especially those who evangelize and build the Church among the poor.)

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