Word to the Wise
Thursday, July 15, 2010 - St. Bonaventure, OFM - Bishop and Doctor of the Church
[Isaiah 26:7-9, 12, 16-19 and Matthew 11:28-30]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, and my burden light.
Today's gospel scripture continues the words of Jesus from yesterday and continues to build on Exodus 33 (go read it!), especially Exodus 33:14. In the gospel, the intimacy that Jesus has with his Father gives rise to an invitation to all humanity to "rest in the Lord." Moses was looking for help in his enormous task of leading the Israelites. God assures him of the divine presence and the divine friendship but stops short of a complete vision and knowledge of God. Jesus reshapes this assurance and extends it to all who come to believe in him. He portrays it as rest and a freedom from the "yoke" of the old law. Theologians have traditionally used such terms as "immanent" and "economic" to describe the reality of God as Trinity. The first term, "immanent," refers to the nature of God. Despite our learned speculation over the centuries (Sts Bonaventure and Thomas Aquinas are good examples), which can be helpful but not binding on God, the nature of God remains essentially a mystery. (St. Augustine's famous words about the Trinity come to mind: "It is not a lie but a mystery!"). Moses is called an intimate friend of God but only up to a point! The term, "economic," describes the workings of God in history and human society. This is where Jesus' invitation comes in. Acting as God's revelation, Jesus can give us the rest that God assured to Moses, a confidence in God's presence (which we often call "grace"). If we consign Jesus to "a distant past or a distant heaven" (words of John Paul II), we deny ourselves the rest and confidence that faith, hope and love can bring. Why do so many choose to do without? AMEN
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