July 5, 2026

Today the scripture readings focus on rejoicing and praising our King and God, the Spirit working within us, and learning about our relationship with Jesus and finding rest in him.

The first reading from the Prophet Zechariah begins by telling us to “rejoice heartily” and “shout for Joy” at the coming of our savior and king.  Keep in mind this prophecy was made six hundred years before Jesus’ birth, but specifically tells us that our savior will be meek and come riding on a donkey, and will proclaim peace to the nations. It also tells us that our savior’s dominion will have no end.

That is what we do every time Mass is celebrated – we rejoice and shout for joy at the sacrifice Jesus made for each of us, so that we might have the hope of eternal life. But let us remember that we have work to do here on earth, as we hope for eternal life. We are called to love as Jesus did and we are called to a relationship with our trinitarian God. We are called to a life of deepening our faith and spreading the good news of Jesus to the ends of the earth.

Today’s Psalm is a beautiful reminder of what we are called to do as faithful Christians, as we hear – “I will praise your name for ever, my king and my God.” It reminds us that our Lord is gracious and merciful, good to all, faithful in all his words, holy in all his works. The Lord lifts those that are falling and raises up those that are bowed down. In short, we have a loving God that wants nothing more than good for each of us. So let us remember to praise our King and our God; for the gift of life and the promise of eternal salvation.

This brings to mind the glorious image from the song “I Can Only Imagine” which goes like this:

“I can only imagine

When that day comes

And I find myself

Standing in the Son,

I can only imagine

When all I will do

Is forever, forever worship You.”

What a beautiful image this brings to light; to worship God eternally.

In the second reading, Saint Paul is reminding us to focus on having the Spirit within us and not on worldly things; that will eventually fade away. This Spirit will continue to energize us and guide us on our journey in life and the path to eternal salvation. As we rely on the power of the Spirit, it will help us to approach life on earth with a fresh perspective and to treat people as Jesus taught us to do. This Spirit is the source that will help us to grow our personal relationship with God and prepare us to handle the difficult times we might face in life. While earthly things will only satisfy us for a short time and then fade away; spiritual things will follow us into eternity.

In the Gospel, Jesus tells us to come to him and he will give us rest. But what does he mean when he says – “Take my yoke upon you.” According to ancient tradition, observant Jews were encouraged to take up the “yoke of the Torah,” or the “yoke of the law of the Lord.” This meant placing their highest priority on study and contemplation of the Law. This practice of prayerful study was so wonderful that it was said that anyone who took it up would experience interior freedom from the yokes of oppression and worldly concerns. 

So, when Jesus told his disciples to take his yoke upon them, they would have understood what he meant: Take up my teaching. Immerse yourself in my words. Let what I have taught you become your highest priority and greatest treasure. They would have also known why he said that his yoke is “easy” and his burden is “light”: anyone who takes up his yoke will find relief and “rest” from their worldly concerns and burdens.

We often think of a yoke as a burden: a heavy instrument that weighs us down and restricts our movement. We might even think this way about the practice of pondering Jesus’ teachings. But he promises the exact opposite: dwelling on his words in Scripture raises our hearts and minds to heaven. It opens us up to the presence of his Spirit. Our Advocate who wants to heal our wounds, strengthen our wills, and shape our desires. It helps us to understand that the life Jesus calls us to is a joy and a privilege.

Jesus is a shepherd who wants only what is the best for us. His words are filled with wisdom and guidance. They have the power to shape our hearts and minds after his own image. So, let’s study them. Let’s contemplate them. Let’s invite his Spirit into our hearts so that his yoke becomes easier and his burden lighter every day. (WAU)

Each week when we recite the prayers of the faithful, we pray for the success of the five-year diocesan pastoral plan, Via Fidelis which is a Latin phrase meaning "the faithful way" or "road of faith.” It signifies a commitment to spiritual renewal, evangelization, and deeply understanding Catholic faith traditions, often referencing Christ as "the way.” Today, as we respond “Lord hear our prayer” to this particular prayer petition; let us make it a point to do our part to renew the Spirit within and around us, to tell people about the good news of Jesus Christ, and to dive deeper into understanding our Catholic faith traditions. In another words – let us take up our yoke and find rest from our worries and burdens.

In this year of catechesis there are many opportunities at the diocesan and parish level to renew our spirit, to help evangelize those that have fallen away or don’t know Jesus, and to deepen our understanding of our faith. All while growing our relationship with God. We are also fortunate that there are so many other trustworthy online Catholic resources to help us on our way.

So how do we find rest, by taking up our yoke? By giving up the many things that consume our time and don’t really give us any spiritual growth. Instead of spending time on social media, why not listen to the “Bible in a year” or the “Catechism in a year” podcasts that are available for free on Ascension Press. Why not give up an hour of television time and instead read the many books available about Catholicism or the saints. Or choose any other way that allows us time to deepen our faith and knowledge of the plan Jesus has for each of us and the deep relationship he desires us to have with him.

In this way we would be taking up the yoke to learn and go deeper into the teachings of Jesus. We would be resting from the activities that prevent us from deepening our relationship with Jesus and improving our knowledge of our faith. We would be better prepared to face the struggles or difficult times that might come our way and our Savior, Jesus Christ is always ready to help us get past these burdens and offer us rest.

Just imagine how calm and confident we can feel with our deeper faith, improved knowledge, and strengthened relationship with Jesus Christ. With less interruptions from outside sources and truly resting our minds, we could have the peace that Jesus offered to his early followers. With our focus on Jesus and resting in him, perhaps we might even be able to become more accepting of individuals with different beliefs or world views.

As we celebrate the 250th anniversary of or nation, today – let us pray for peace, love and unity to prevail throughout the land. And let us pray that the deep divisions end and that our nation once again becomes – “one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.” May God bless each of you, your families and these United States of America, today and always.