Greetings, SBT Readers!

Walking through the Mysterium Fidei Museum in Valletta, Malta, one is struck by the silence and simplicity of the convent life it has recreated. Open to the public for the first time in 400 years, the underground complex of monastic cells, worship spaces, burial chambers, and work areas reveals a life devoid of comfort. Here, women actually chose to entomb themselves in life and in death; however, there is one documented case in the 18th century when a "wayward" girl-- the niece of the Grand Master of the Knights of St. John, Manuel Pinto de Fonseca-- was forced to live with the nuns. For her, being locked away must at first have seemed like a living death...

Despite the starkness of St. Catherine's Monastery, there is a pervading sense of peace. True, the charming central courtyard provides relief from the interior dark spaces,

but the entire complex was a place of prayer-- and I would venture to say, joy. The nuns cared for orphaned girls, prayed for the surrounding community, sheltered girls in need of reform, fed the hungry, and spent hours in contemplation. Everything they did was for the glory of God, not for their own advancement or recognition. They lived humbly, labored hard, and prayed without ceasing. Some left behind wealth and prestige, giving up everything to be "brides of Christ." Today, only three members of St. Catherine's monastery remain, living in a private upper section of the complex. Like their predecessors, they keep out of the public eye but continue to serve through prayer and by providing spiritual counsel. Hidden from the outside world, they know what it is to dwell in the Kingdom of God...

Many Blessings,

Elizabeth

LINK TO SCRIPTURE READINGS

At that time, Jesus said: 

"I praise 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 little ones.

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 those to whom the Son wishes to reveal him."

"Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened,

and I will give you rest.

Take my yoke upon you and learn from me,

for I am meek and humble of heart. You will find rest for yourselves, for my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."

Matt 11:35-30

Many people today, especially city dwellers, have never seen two or more draft animals yoked together. Upon hearing the word "yoke," a few may understand what it is to be under someone's yoke, especially a tyrant's; most, however, are likely to confuse "yoke" with "yolk," becoming entirely mystified by Matt 11:28-29 unless they read the footnotes!

The beauty of Jesus' image is that it invites us to recognize the realities to which we are yoked and to choose the lightness of his yoke instead. Speaking to the crowds, Jesus was referring specifically to the burdens the scribes and Pharisees imposed through their rigid interpretations of the Law; these included complex rules about Sabbath observance, ritual purification, tithing, and even loopholes for avoiding financial obligations towards elderly parents. Instead of promoting loving-kindness, justice, and mercy, the scribes and Pharisees enforced a burdensome checklist of traditions. In effect, Jesus' words undermined their legalistic approach to religion, pointing to his teachings as a life-giving alternative. Perhaps he had in mind the words of Sirach, who urges the untutored to leave behind their bitter thirst and, instead, submit their necks to Wisdom's yoke. (Sir 51:23-26).

To be "yoked" to Jesus is to be united with him; it implies intimacy, submission, and obedience. First, however, we have to disconnect from whatever else is "yoking" us. We cannot be yoked to the Way, the Truth, and the Life, if we are yoked to wilfulness, lies and a culture of death. Nor can we embrace Jesus' yoke if we are driven by grandiosity and insatiable ego needs. Nor will we find rest for our souls if we deify possessions, power, and success. Jesus is humble of heart, and his yoke awaits those humble enough to accept it.

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QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION

• Why is humility foundational to the spiritual life?
• Have you ever been burdened by a heavy "yoke"?
• In what ways is Jesus "meek," and how is this a strength?
• What keeps people attached to the burdens that oppress them?

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RESOURCES

Spiritual Self-Assessment:

https://assess.coach/eastewart/

Ministry Team Assessment: https://assess.coach/embracingpossibility