The gospel for Thursday of the 15th week in Ordinary time is taken from Matthew. Jesus said, come to me all you who labor 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 yourselves. For my yoke is easy, my burden light. When Jesus describes that he is meek and humble of heart, he’s also saying clearly to all of us that the Father, God the Father, is meek and humble of heart.

It’s hard for us to understand fully how radical such a statement would be because there was an image of the Father as being much like the other gods, powerful, in need of praise, in need of honor, in need of obedience. And here he is saying, no. This God, this God, the Father that I’ve come to reveal to you is a loving, caring, patient, gentle Father. And when you rest in that image, you will find rest that’s so needed in all of our lives. Please take a few moments to reflect upon these images and then I will close with a prayer. Sa Satan Sam.

Sa Sam. Sa Sam. Closing prayer Father, so many images around us of power seem to be coming from people who are filled with their egos and filled with self centeredness. So sometimes it’s hard for us to understand how fully the authority that you have is so radically different in the way the world sees power. Bless us with this consistent, clear image of a loving, caring, forgiving Father. And we ask this in Jesus name, Amen.