Lectio Divina – 28

Fr Martin Kallunkal

Reading
“At that time 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 little 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” (Mt 11:25-30).

Reflection
Let us consider a couple of points for our reflection. First, Jesus thanks the Father for hiding “these things” from the learned, and revealing them to the little children. What are “these things?” Who are the learned ones? Who are the little children? As Jesus has said elsewhere, ‘these things’ are the mysteries of the Kingdom, of which the person and passion of Jesus is the centre (Mt 13:11). In order to understand the referents of “the learned and the clever” we need to read the passages preceding the one we have just read. There, Jesus pronounces woes to some cities in Galilee which refuse to accept Him. The religious elites and professional academicians in those cities were barred from receiving divine wisdom. The little children to whom the Father reveals His Sons are the willing disciples who followed Him in simplicity. Second, those of us who have read the book of Daniel might wonder if Jesus is contradicting and correcting the Scripture; for, Daniel also makes a similar prayer where he thanks God for conferring “wisdom on the wise, and knowledge on those with discernment” (Dan 2:21). Indeed, in the former times, God revealed Himself partly to the wise, but in the time of fulfilment, God reveals Himself to plain people who respond with simple faith. Therefore, the wise has to be simple in order to receive God’s self-revelation in Jesus. Recall what the Psalmist says: “the decree of Yahweh is trustworthy, wisdom for the simple” (Ps 19:7). Third, Jesus invites all those who are overburdened to come to Him and find rest for their souls. Jesus says this, once again, in continuation of His criticism of the Rabbis who “tie up heavy burdens and lay them on people’s shoulders” (Mt 23:4). Jesus announces that His yoke is easy and the burden light. Yoke symbolizes discipleship. The demands of Jesus’ discipleship are easier and lighter than that of the Rabbis because it is a life lived in complete dedication to God, which liberates people from trivial concerns of the self. However, it is not rest from hardships and persecution, but soul-filling joy that one finds in total reliance on God the Father.

Prayer
Lord, I have been following you for long; and today I want to look back and check with myself if I followed you with true joy and easiness. My overall restlessness tells of the poor quality of my discipleship. Lord, I have been honestly serious about discipleship, but I have been equally concerned about the wisdom and acceptance in worldly sphere as well. My spirituality is badly materialistic. Even my personal prayer has become a strenuous activity. Lord, as your chosen ones once prayed, I have to buy my own water to drink, my own wood I can get only at a price. The yoke is on my neck; I am persecuted; exhausted I am, allowed no rest (cf. Lam 5:5). Lord, in your school, you are the teacher and the textbook. Cause me to follow You and learn from You.

Contemplation
Mutual knowledge of Jesus and his followers is the medium of God’s self-revelation. It is an act of face-to-face-knowing. Sit in His presence, dwell in the space opened by the Word, and know the Lord intimately.

Action
Remind yourself repeatedly that “blessed are the gentle”  (Mt. 5:4), and decide to act gently. Include the prayer, “Jesus, meek and humble of heart, make my heart like unto Yours,” in your post-communion conversation with the Lord.