Lay It All Down

Memorial of Saint Bonaventure, Bishop and Doctor of the Church

Reading 1 Isaiah 10:5-7, 13b-16

Thus says the LORD:
Woe to Assyria! My rod in anger,
my staff in wrath.
Against an impious nation I send him,
and against a people under my wrath I order him
To seize plunder, carry off loot,
and tread them down like the mud of the streets.
But this is not what he intends,
nor does he have this in mind;
Rather, it is in his heart to destroy,
to make an end of nations not a few.

For he says:
“By my own power I have done it,
and by my wisdom, for I am shrewd.
I have moved the boundaries of peoples,
their treasures I have pillaged,
and, like a giant, I have put down the enthroned.
My hand has seized like a nest
the riches of nations;
As one takes eggs left alone,
so I took in all the earth;
No one fluttered a wing,
or opened a mouth, or chirped!”

Will the axe boast against him who hews with it?
Will the saw exalt itself above him who wields it?
As if a rod could sway him who lifts it,
or a staff him who is not wood!
Therefore the Lord, the LORD of hosts,
will send among his fat ones leanness,
And instead of his glory there will be kindling
like the kindling of fire.
 

Responsorial Psalm Psalm 94:5-6, 7-8, 9-10, 14-15

R. (14a) The Lord will not abandon his people.
Your people, O LORD, they trample down,
your inheritance they afflict.
Widow and stranger they slay,
the fatherless they murder. 
R. The Lord will not abandon his people.
And they say, “The LORD sees not;
the God of Jacob perceives not.”
Understand, you senseless ones among the people;
and, you fools, when will you be wise?
R. The Lord will not abandon his people.
Shall he who shaped the ear not hear?
or he who formed the eye not see?
Shall he who instructs nations not chastise,
he who teaches men knowledge?
R. The Lord will not abandon his people.
For the LORD will not cast off his people,
nor abandon his inheritance;
But judgment shall again be with justice,
and all the upright of heart shall follow it. 
R. The Lord will not abandon his people
 

Alleluia Matthew 11:25

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Blessed are you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth,
you have revealed to little ones the mysteries of the Kingdom.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
 

Gospel Matthew 11:25-27

At that time Jesus exclaimed: 
“I give praise to you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth,
for although you have hidden these things
from the wise and the learned
you have revealed them to the childlike.
Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will.
All things have been handed over to me by my Father.
No one knows the Son except the Father,
and no one knows the Father except the Son
and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him.”
 

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Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States, second typical edition, Copyright © 2001, 1998, 1997, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine; Psalm refrain © 1968, 1981, 1997, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved. Neither this work nor any part of it may be reproduced, distributed, performed or displayed in any medium, including electronic or digital, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Lay It All Down

July 16, 2026 // Thursday of the Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time // Optional Memorial of Our Lady of Mount Carmel

Read the Word // Open your Bible to today’s Gospel: Matthew 11:28-30

Reflect on the Word // 

“What’s going on? Do you need to talk?” 

My colleague’s combative tone and demeanor suddenly softened as she sank into the chair I offered her. With tears piercing her eyes, she began to share about the heavy burdens that had prompted her outburst just moments before.

I had summoned this employee to my cubicle to chastise her, but it was clear by her burnt-out and scattered state that she needed much more than the fraternal correction I had already given. Here before me was a daughter of the Father desperately in need of rest, and the Lord, by placing her in my midst, was inviting me to alleviate her load, even if only for a moment. 

“Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). In today’s Gospel, our tender Lord implores us to find reprieve from all that weighs down our bodies and hearts. And yet, Jesus isn’t merely offering us an escape from our problems; He is revealing His eagerness to share the load by inviting us to yoke ourselves to His love (see Matthew 11:29).

Our Savior is both Burden-Bearer and Burden-Sharer, Who beautifully gives us an example of how we, too, are to love. But how often are we willing to let others unload their weight of suffering? Do we reserve a welcoming space in our hearts for the tired new mom, the over-caffeinated college student, the lonely widow? United with Christ, we can be the “easy yoke” that our brothers and sisters are seeking. 

To my blessed surprise, when I asked that staff member how I could pray for her, she requested a prayer at that very moment. And as we prayed together, a lightness washed over her that hadn’t been present before. 

By choosing to gently accompany others through their struggles, our lives become a radiance of Christ’s and a safe haven for every labored and burdened soul we encounter. May our witness echo the words of the Divine Shepherd, Who lovingly assures us and all those we walk with, You can find rest here. 

Relate to the Lord // Look for an opportunity to pray with someone today—and take it!

Be a Woman of the Word