Thursday, July 20, 2017, St. Apollinaris
Exodus 3:13-20, Psalm 105:1, 5, 8-9, 24-27, Matthew 11:28-30
Link to Readings --> http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/072017.cfm
REST STOP
"Come to Me, all you who are weary and find life burdensome, and I will refresh you." -Matthew 11:28
Imagine yourself coming to Jesus with this huge burden on your back. Jesus takes the burden off your shoulders (see Ps 81:7). Before you even can thank Him and walk away unburdened, He takes a humongous burden off of His back and puts it on yours. Now you've got more to carry than ever before. For some reason, however, His yoke is easy and His burden light (Mt 11:30). Because this is Jesus' burden, He is bearing most of the weight. You are another Simon of Cyrene helping Jesus carry the cross (Lk 23:26). You're made to carry this cross. You're rested and strengthened in carrying this cross. You come to a point where you boast of nothing but the cross of Jesus Christ (Gal 6:14).
Realistically, we cannot be unburdened in this life on earth. We can only be re-burdened with Jesus' burden, the cross. Pretending that we can unburden ourselves makes life more burdensome. We make life harder by trying to make it easier. Paradoxically, the heaviest burden, that is, the cross, is the easiest to carry because Jesus carried it. It is in striving to carry the cross that we enter into His rest (see Heb 4:11). Take up your cross daily (Lk 9:23) and get the best rest you'll get on this earth.
Prayer: Father, give me both earthly and eternal rest.
Promise: "I am concerned about you and about the way you are being treated in Egypt." -Ex 3:16
Praise: After St. Apollinaris was exiled and martyred, many miracles were attributed to him.
(For a related teaching on "Redemptive Suffering", order, listen to or download our CD 75-1 or DVD 75 on our website or order our tape on audio AV 75-1 or video V-75.)
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Rescript: In accord with the "Code of Canon Law", I hereby grant my permission to publish "One Bread, One Body" covering the period from June 1, 2017 through July 31, 2017
?Most Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Auxiliary Bishop, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, February 22, 2017
The rescript is a declaration that a book or pamphlet is considered to be free of doctrinal or moral error. It is not implied that those who have granted ecclesial permission agree with the contents, opinions, or statements expressed.
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