15th Week in Ordinary Times : Thursday, 16th July 2026

Today’s Gospel is very short, but with very profound meaning for our life. Firstly, the great invitation of Jesus reminds us of the Lord’s assurance to Moses, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest” (Ex 33:14). It is an assurance of God’s care, protection and constant divine presence that Jesus gives when we come to Him.

Secondly, a yoke is a wooden harness fittingly made by carpenters, and when put on the necks of two oxen, it avoids painful rubbing or bumping. An ancient story says that Jesus made yokes in the carpenter’s shop at Nazareth. And He made them fit the animals better than any other carpenters in Galilee.

Jesus was a carpenter, He knew firsthand what He was talking about when He used the metaphor “My yoke is easy.’ The word that Jesus used for “easy” can be translated as “well fitting.” In other words, Jesus is saying, “Trust Me, and yoke yourself to Me. Together we can pull any load.”

This reminds me of an incident in the life of St Teresa of Avila who was building a new convent with hardly any money in her pocket. A Sister asked her how she would complete the work, she said, “Teresa alone cannot do this but with Jesus on her side, she can do anything.” St Paul too says, “I can do all things through Christ Who strengthens me” (Phil 4:13).

PRAYER Lord, I can do all things with You by my side.