Isaiah
40:25-31 Mt 11:28-30
In this chapter of Isaiah (40) there is a lengthy
series of questions – rhetorical ones: “Have you not known? Have you not heard?
…” And then these questions are followed by statements that remind the hearer
that God is intimately involved in creation – not only the order and design of
creation but its ongoing existence.
We are reminded that God's creation did not spring forth
from His hands, but that the universe was created by God in a state of
journeying (in statu viae). The
creation is journeying toward an ultimate perfection yet to be attained, to
which God has destined it. We call this ‘divine providence’. This isn’t to say
that our lives are already determined – we don’t believe in fate in that way – but that God
is actively working His purposes out. The question is therefore, are we
aligning ourselves to His purposes, or going against them?
Our Lord asks us for childlike abandonment to the
providence of our heavenly Father. For the Father, takes care of His children’s
smallest needs, and the divine compassion is opened to all who abandon
themselves to the Lord, who indeed take His yoke and learn from Him. There
indeed we find rest for our souls.
Jesus said, ‘Come to me, all you who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.’ (RSVCE)
Fr Ian
See
CCC 302-305
