Skip to main content

Christ brings divine order to the burdens and labor of everyday life, says Ohio priest

Fr. Ambrose Dobrozsi, a priest of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, Ohio, reflects on the Bible verse Matthew 11:28 and how Christ works to bring a divine order to life.

"Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28).

This verse comes from the Gospel of Matthew, one of the three synoptic gospels of the New Testament. 

Not much is known about St. Matthew, who is credited with writing the Gospel of Matthew, says Christian website OverviewBible.com. 

When Jesus called Matthew to be one of his disciples, he was employed as a publican, or tax collector. 

GOD HAS 'EXTRAORDINARY AND OMNIPOTENT MERCY' TOWARD PENITENT SINNERS, MINNESOTA PRIEST SAYS

This was "one of the most reviled professions in ancient Judaism," said the site. 

While Matthew is regarded as one of the authors of the Gospels, he is a relatively minor player in the Bible itself. He is only mentioned seven times, notes OverviewBible. 

"Jesus' idea of rest doesn't seem to be like ours," Fr. Ambrose Dobrozsi told Fox News Digital.

Fr. Dobrozsi is a priest in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati; he was ordained in 2019. 

He serves as a parochial vicar at St. Luke Church in Beavercreek, Ohio. 

The idea that Jesus will "give you rest" may seem contradictory, said Dobrozsi, given the demands of Christianity. 

ALABAMA PASTOR SAYS CARING ABOUT THE WORLD MEANS LETTING GOD USE US 'AS WE MARCH FORWARD'

"He puts a lot of demands upon us: We have to go to Mass, fast during Lent, follow his commandments, serve the poor, obey the pope," said Dobrozsi.

So "how could someone so demanding claim that he is going to give us rest?" the priest said.

In actuality, humanity is under demands from a variety of sources.

"The reality is that we are labored and burdened, no matter what," said Dobrozsi. 

"We constantly have to please our boss, obey the laws of our country, work to keep our family happy and so many other things. These demands can feel chaotic," he said. 

THE EUCHARIST IS A 'MIRACLE OF LOVE, HIDDEN IN PLAIN SIGHT,' SAYS RHODE ISLAND PRIEST

In the flow of everyday life, it can be "so easy to feel like we're always being pulled in a bunch of different directions, working on so many things at once, without ever slowing down and taking a break." 

Yet with this verse, Jesus makes it clear that he will not be the one to add additional things to people's typical burdens. 

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER

"If Jesus were going to add one more thing to do to our list, it would not be fair of him. That would not be rest," said Dobrozsi. 

"But his ‘yoke is easy, and his burden is light.’"

Rather than adding additional work, "Christ's yoke changes the life and the work we already have. He comes to help us do what we already need to with his grace." 

"He comes to give our job deeper meaning with his divine purpose. He comes to ease our work of improving ourselves with His forgiveness and understanding," said Dobrozsi. 

Instead, Jesus is able to take "all the chaos and the competing demands of all the people we're working for — and bring his divine order."

Data & News supplied by www.cloudquote.io
Stock quotes supplied by Barchart
Quotes delayed at least 20 minutes.
By accessing this page, you agree to the following
Privacy Policy and Terms and Conditions.