The peace of Christ is at the centre of today’s Gospel. And it is at the centre of our lives of faith, too.
He gives us rest, and in him do we find the peace that we need.
All of life is geared towards journeying, and our journey is far from aimless. We are walking home into the glory and the wonder of God. Heaven. That is what we call it: heaven. But it is still a place that nobody can comprehend.
The only glimpses we get of this eternity are through the Gospels.
But we get other snatches, too. Deep within the peace and rest of God, which in part we attain in this world, is a foretaste of the peace that is to come.
We should not feel guilty about finding rest. This, after all, is the purpose of our journey into God. Monastic life teaches us that rest is key to working profitably for God’s glory.
Let us find rest in a period of daily gentle prayer, in some quiet reflection upon the wonders of life. This begins our journey afresh, each day, a reconversion through the peace of Christ.
The Lord make his face to shine upon you. And give you peace.
Amen.
GOSPEL
The Lord be with you
And with your spirit.
A reading from the Gospel according to Matthew 11:25-30
Jesus exclaimed,
‘I bless you, Father, Lord of heaven and of earth, for hiding these things from the learned and the clever and revealing them to mere children. Yes, Father, for that is what it pleased you to do. Everything has been entrusted to me by my Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father, just as no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.
‘Come to me, all you who labour and are overburdened, and I will give you rest. Shoulder my yoke and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Yes, my yoke is easy and my burden light.’
The Gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.