July 18 –Thursday – Hardest Battle to the Strongest Soldier – Wilson SVD
Fifteenth week in Ordinary Time
Isaiah 26: 7-9, 12,16-19; Matthew 11: 28-30
In the first reading, the prophet Isaiah expresses people’s longing for God amidst pain and anguish: “My soul yearns for you in the night, and my spirit within me keeps vigil for you.”
In the gospel, Jesus is inviting all who are overburdened to rest and to yoke with him.
Rest is the presence of God: God provides rest. Rest is not the absence of something; it is the presence of something. The biblical definition of rest is the presence of God in the midst of conflict. Rest is a time of recuperation and recharge. Having rested in the presence of God, start to battle, and when you are tired, come back to Him, refill your energy, and start again.
God gives the hardest battle to his strongest soldiers. When faced with life’s toughest challenges, remember that these trials are not a sign of weakness but a testament to your strength. Each struggle is an opportunity to grow and demonstrate your resilience. God sees your potential and knows that you have the courage to overcome adversity. In these moments, it is crucial to trust in a higher plan. Believe that there is a purpose behind every challenge. A reason for every hardship. Your strength and perseverance inspire others. By facing your battles with grace, you become a beacon of hope and a source of encouragement for those around you. Your ability to endure and overcome serves as a powerful reminder that resilience and faith will carry us through the darkest times. Remember your strength is a gift, and each battle is a reflection of God’s trust in you.
Take His Yoke: Jesus invites to take his yoke upon us. How is this possible? A yoke is a wooden cross piece that is fastened over the necks of two animals and attached to the plough or cart that they are to pull. The wooden cross piece helps the two animals to pull together. When we come to Jesus and learn from him, we get yoked with him. Jesus pulls us through our battle. Jesus does not take away whatever we are pulling, but we no longer pull it alone. Jesus pulls our burden with us. The yoke becomes easy because it is well-fitted with Jesus’ yoke and is now easy to pull.
Our Takeaway
1. God gives the hardest battle to His strongest soldiers. Each hardship is a reflection of God’s trust in you.
2. Biblically, rest is the presence of God in the midst of conflict. It is a time of recuperation and recharge. Battle continues after the rest. We have to battle our war; we will not be replaced by God in the warfield.
3. Jesus does not promise to remove our battle. When we are yoked with him, Jesus pulls our burden with us.
Wilson SVD
Divine Word Missionary
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