For my yoke is easy, and my burden light
Is 40,25-31; Ps 102,1-4.8.10; Mt 11,28-30.
12 DECEMBER
The Word of the Lord has always sung the sweetness and the appeal of the Law of the Lord. It is not burdensome. On the contrary, transgression is heavy. It takes away peace, blessing and life. It deprives of the presence of the Lord and turns his face away from us.
The law of the Lord is perfect, restoring the soul; The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; The judgments of the Lord are true; they are righteous altogether. They are more desirable than gold, yes, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb. Moreover, by them Your servant is warned; In keeping them there is great reward. Who can discern his errors? Acquit me of hidden faults. Also keep back Your servant from presumptuous sins; Let them not rule over me; Then I will be blameless, And I shall be acquitted of great transgression (Ps19 (18) 8-14).
One must ask the Lord for the grace to be able to observe the precepts he gave. Just as the precepts are a gift from God, so also their observance is a gift from God. Prayer to keep the Lord’s Law must be without pause or interruption.
My soul cleaves to the dust; Revive me according to Your word. I have told of my ways, and You have answered me; Teach me Your statutes. Make me understand the way of Your precepts, So I will meditate on Your wonders. My soul weeps because of grief; Strengthen me according to Your word. Remove the false way from me, And graciously grant me Your law. I have chosen the faithful way; I have placed Your ordinances before me. I cling to Your testimonies; O Lord, do not put me to shame! I shall run the way of Your commandments, For You will enlarge my heart. Teach me, O Lord, the way of Your statutes, And I shall observe it to the end. Give me understanding, that I may observe Your law And keep it with all my heart. Make me walk in the path of Your commandments, For I delight in it. Incline my heart to Your testimonies And not to dishonest gain. Turn away my eyes from looking at vanity, And revive me in Your ways. Establish Your word to Your servant, As that which produces reverence for You. Turn away my reproach which I dread, For Your ordinances are good. Behold, I long for Your precepts; Revive me through Your righteousness. May Your loving kindnesses also come to me, O Lord, Your salvation according to Your word; So I will have an answer for him who reproaches me, For I trust in Your word. And do not take the word of truth utterly out of my mouth, For I wait for Your ordinances. So I will keep Your law continually, Forever and ever. And I will walk at liberty, For I seek Your precepts. I will also speak of Your testimonies before kings And shall not be ashamed. I shall delight in Your commandments, Which I love. And I shall lift up my hands to Your commandments, Which I love; And I will meditate on Your statutes (Ps 119 (118) 25-48).
Jesus not only gave the Law, not only bestowed every grace so that it is observed, he also sent his Holy Spirit to transform our nature from one according to the flesh into a spiritual nature capable of loving every Word of the Gospel, making it his perennial norm of life. If we detach ourselves from prayer, from the sacraments, from the Holy Spirit, we will always detach ourselves from the Gospel. The Word must be lived from the heart of Christ and in the Holy Spirit. Law, Gospel, Christ Jesus, Holy Spirit and Sacraments cannot be separated. You cannot make them things that can stand alone and separately. They are one thing.
“Come to me, all you who labour 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 your selves. For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.”
Sin tires and oppresses, vice genetically transforms the nature itself, the transgression of the Law of the Lord deprives us of all blessing. Jesus makes his great promise to this man who is lawless, outlaw, defeated by evil, a slave and prisoner of the flesh. Those who will go to Him, and one goes to Him by entering the Gospel and his Word, He gives refreshment, consolation, peace, blessing and true life. We go to Him to stay in Him, to live for Him and with Him. Many go to Him only to ask for some grace. But this is a pagan way to go. The Christian goes to him, to embrace his Word and consecrate his life to the Gospel.
Mother of God, Angels and Saints ensure that the Christian consecrates his life to Christ in the Gospel.