Jesus’ Invitation – Come Unto Me
We are delighted to present to you the English translation of the homily given by His Holiness, Pope Francis on Sunday July 6th, at St. Peter’s Square, prior to the recitation of the Angelus:.
Dear Brothers and Sisters, Good morning!
[simpleazon-image align=”left” asin=”1493740512″ locale=”us” height=”375″ src=”http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41qsfTJ7DFL.jpg” width=”249″]In this Sunday’s Gospel, we hear Jesus’ invitation: “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy burdened, and I will give you rest” (Mt 11:28). When Jesus says this, he has before him the people he meets every day on the streets of Galilee: very many simple people, the poor, the ill, sinners, those who are marginalized … These people constantly followed him to hear his word– a word of hope! Jesus’ words always gives hope!– as well as simply to touch a hem of his garment. Jesus himself sought out these exhausted, run-down crowds like sheep without a shepherd (cf. Mt 9:35 -36), and he sought them out to announce to them the Kingdom of God and to heal many of them in body and spirit. Now he calls them all to himself: “Come to me”, and he guarantees them relief and rest.
This invitation of Jesus reaches to our day, and extends to the lots of brothers and sisters oppressed by life’s precarious conditions, by existential and challenging circumstances and at times doing not have legitimate points of reference. In the poorest nations, however likewise on the outskirts of the richest countries, there are numerous weary individuals, worn out under the excruciating weight of overlook and indifference. Indifference: human indifference causes the needy a lot pain! And worse, the indifference of Christians! On the fringes of society a lot of men and women are tried by indigence, however also by dissatisfaction with life and by frustration. So many are required to emigrate from their homeland, risking their lives. Many more, every day, bring the weight of a financial system that exploits human beings, imposing on them an intolerable “yoke”, which the few privileged do not wish to bear. To each of these children of the Father in heaven, Jesus says: “Come to me, all of you”. But he also says it to those who have everything, but whose heart is empty and without God. Even to them, Jesus addresses this invitation: “Come to me”. Jesus’ invitation is for everybody. However specifically for those who suffer the most.
Jesus promises to provide rest to everyone, but he also offers us an invitation, which is like a commandment: “Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart” (Mt 11:29). The “yoke” of the Lord consists in taking on the concern of others with fraternal love. Once Christ’s comfort and rest is received, we are called in turn to become rest and comfort for our brothers and sisters, with a docile and humble attitude, in immitation of the Teacher. Docility and humility of heart helps us not only to handle the concern of others, but also to keep our personal views, our judgments, our criticism or our indifference from weighing on them.
Let us invoke Mary Most Holy, who welcomes under her mantle all the tired and worn our people, so that with an enlightened faith, seen in life, we can offer relief to many in need of help, of tremendous, of hope.
