As we contemplate the Scriptures assigned for Feria V after the 21st Sunday after Pentecost, we find profound spiritual nourishment in Ephesians 3:8-9, 14-19 and Matthew 11:25-30. These passages draw us into the mystery of God’s boundless love and His call to rest in His grace. Together, they reveal the depth of Christ’s love for His Church and invite us to embrace humility and trust as the pathways to union with God. The Church Fathers provide timeless wisdom that can deepen our understanding of these passages, shedding light on the beauty of God’s plan for our salvation.
Ephesians 3:8-9, 14-19: The Unsearchable Riches of Christ
In Ephesians 3, St. Paul speaks of “the unsearchable riches of Christ” and the mystery that has been hidden in God since the beginning of the world. He emphasizes his own unworthiness to preach such profound mysteries, yet acknowledges that it is by God’s grace that he has been called to bring the light of the Gospel to the Gentiles. This passage leads into a prayer for the Ephesians, that they may be “strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man” and “rooted and grounded in love” so they may comprehend “the breadth, and length, and depth, and height” of Christ’s love.
St. John Chrysostom reflects on the profound humility of St. Paul in this passage, noting how the Apostle, despite his preeminent role in spreading the Gospel, continually sees himself as “the least of all saints.” Chrysostom writes, “He glorifies the grace of God, not taking the credit to himself for the achievement, but giving it all to God” (Homily on Ephesians). This humility allows the Apostle to open himself fully to the workings of the Holy Spirit, being a vessel of God’s grace to others. We too, like St. Paul, are invited to receive God’s grace with humility, recognizing our own limitations and relying on His strength rather than our own.
St. Augustine offers another perspective, focusing on the call to be “rooted and grounded in love.” He explains that charity, or divine love, is the very foundation of the Christian life: “The root is the deepest foundation, and when the soul is grounded in charity, nothing can shake it” (Sermon 167). To be “rooted and grounded” in this way means living a life that is fully oriented toward God, drawing strength from His love which surpasses all knowledge.
Matthew 11:25-30: The Invitation to Rest in Christ
In the Gospel of Matthew 11, Jesus offers thanks to the Father for revealing divine truths to “little ones” rather than the wise and learned of the world. He then extends a tender invitation: “Come to me, all you that 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.” Here, Christ presents Himself as the fulfillment of the longing of every human heart for rest and peace.
The Church Fathers saw in this passage a call to embrace the virtues of humility and simplicity. St. Gregory the Great comments, “Our Lord does not call to Him those who are proud, but the humble. He does not invite the wise, but the simple. He does not seek out those who are powerful, but those who labor and are burdened” (Homilies on the Gospels). The “yoke” of Christ is one that does not weigh us down but lifts us up, as it is fashioned from His own humility and love.
St. Hilary of Poitiers explains that the yoke of Christ is a symbol of the divine law, which, when taken upon ourselves, transforms and redeems us. He writes, “His yoke is not a burden that we carry in our own strength, but a grace that upholds us in all things” (Commentary on Matthew). When we accept the yoke of Christ, we are not crushed under its weight; rather, we are supported by Christ Himself who shares the burden with us. Thus, His yoke is truly “easy” and His burden “light” because they are carried in union with His divine power.
The Harmony of Ephesians and Matthew: Embracing Humility and Divine Love
Both passages share a common theme: the call to embrace humility and to rest in the all-encompassing love of God. In Ephesians, St. Paul prays that the faithful may be able to “comprehend, with all the saints, what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height” of Christ’s love, which surpasses all understanding. In Matthew, Jesus invites those who labor to find rest in Him, assuring them that He is “meek and humble of heart.” Together, these readings teach us that true knowledge of God is not achieved through intellectual pride but through the simplicity of heart and openness to divine grace.
The words of St. Ambrose echo this truth, reminding us that “the humility of Christ is our instruction. The Word became flesh not to exalt Himself, but to teach us the way of humility by His example” (Exposition of the Gospel of Luke). The way to comprehend the “unsearchable riches” of Christ is to take up His yoke and follow His example of meekness. In doing so, we grow in the love that surpasses all knowledge, finding rest for our souls.
Application for the Faithful: Seeking Rest in Christ
As we reflect on these passages during Feria V after the 21st Sunday after Pentecost, let us strive to deepen our humility and love. St. Paul’s prayer can be our own: that we may be “strengthened with might” in the inner man, allowing Christ to dwell in our hearts through faith. Let us accept Christ’s invitation to lay down our burdens at His feet, trusting in His promise of rest. In a world filled with anxieties and distractions, His words offer us peace: “Come to me, all you that labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest.”
Let us, therefore, seek to be “little ones” in the eyes of the world, that we might be great in the Kingdom of God. For it is in embracing our littleness that we are able to enter into the mystery of God’s love, which is “the breadth, and length, and depth, and height” that St. Paul speaks of—a love that is beyond measure yet freely given to all who humble themselves and come to Christ. As St. Augustine beautifully concludes, “The measure of love is to love without measure.” Let us be rooted in this love, finding in it the rest and peace that our hearts so deeply desire.