Gospel (Mt 11,28-30) - At that time, Jesus said: «Come to me, all you who are tired and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, who am meek and humble of heart, and you will find refreshment for your life. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

The commentary on the Gospel by Monsignor Vincenzo Paglia

Jesus has before his eyes those crowds of poor people made up of the "little ones", those who are not considered worthy of attention, indeed discarded because they are considered a burden for themselves and for society. Pope Francis has spoken sadly several times about the "throwaway culture" in our societies. The Gospels deal with this condition of the rejected and the words of the Gospel are addressed to them: "Come to me, all you who are tired and oppressed". Jesus sees these crowds groaning at the harshness of the conditions in which they live, at the heaviness of the burdens imposed on them by those in power and by those who remain indifferent to their condition. The evangelist Luke refers to the load of rules and prescriptions that weighed on people's lives: the Word of God, given for salvation and life (Ez 20,13), had been transformed into an unbearable burden of meticulous impositions that no one fulfilled it anymore, not even the doctors of the law themselves. Jesus calls these crowds to him and offers them his yoke, "gentle and light". The yoke that Jesus proposes, however, is not trivial: he proposes a high ideal, he preaches a Gospel that requires radicalism in choices and total dedication. Yet, it is light: because it is carried out of love. Jesus sets himself as an example: "Learn from me, who am meek and humble of heart." The "yoke" of Jesus is himself and his Gospel. John, the disciple of love, in his First Letter, can write: «His commandments are not burdensome» (5,3). The love of Jesus is what he saves and sustains.