Matt Fradd
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Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened ...

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” - Matthew 11:28-30

Come to me, all. Come to my benefits. And first is set down the invitation; second, the necessity for the invitation; third, the usefulness.

He says then, come to me; which are also the words of wisdom: come over to me, all you who desire me, and be filled with my fruits (Sir 24:26). Hence, draw near to me, you unlearned (Sir 51:31), because he wishes to communicate himself.

But why is it necessary? Because without me men labor greatly; you who labor. This applies in a special way to the Jews, because they were laboring in the burdens of the law and the commandments; as is said, this is a yoke upon the necks of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear (Acts 15:10). Likewise, it applies in a general way as regards all who labor because of the fragility of humanity; I am poor, and in labors from my youth (Ps 87:16). And are burdened, namely with the burden of sins. For my iniquities are gone over me head: and as a heavy burden are become heavy upon me (Ps 37:5).

And what will we have if we come to thee? I will refresh you. If any man thirst, let him come to me, and drink (John 7:37).

Next, he explains the invitation.

And first, he explains it;

second, he gives the reason, at for my yoke is sweet and my burden light.

Concerning the first, thus. He had set out the invitation, and to what; now he wishes to show what the invitation is, saying, take my yoke upon you. But why? You say that you want to refresh us, and to take our labor from us, and right away you command us to carry the yoke? We thought to be without a yoke. I say that it is true: without the yoke of sin. For the yoke of their burden, and the rod of their shoulder, and the sceptre of their oppressor you have overcome (Isa 9:4). Not that you will be without God’s law, but without the yoke of sin; let us cast away their yoke from us (Ps 2:3). Return, O Israel, to the Lord your God: for you have fallen down by your iniquity (Hos 14:2). Being then freed from sin, we have been made servants of justice (Rom 6:18). Take therefore my yoke, namely the Gospel instruction.

And he says, yoke; just as a man joins and binds the necks of the cows for plowing, so the Gospel teaching binds both people to its yoke.

And what is this: learn from me, because I am meek, and humble of heart? For the whole new law consists in two things: in meekness and humility. By meekness a man is ordered with respect to neighbor. Hence, O Lord, remember David, and all his meekness (Ps 131:1). By humility, one is ordered with respect to himself and with respect to God. But to whom will I have respect, but to him that is poor and little, and of a contrite spirit, and that trembles at my words? (Isa 66:2). Hence humility makes a man receptive of God.

Likewise, he had said, I will refresh you. What is this refreshment? You will find rest for your souls. For the body is not refreshed for as long as it is affected; and when it is no longer affected, then it is said to be refreshed. And just as hunger is in the body, so desire is in the mind: hence the fulfillment of desires is refreshment. Who satisfies your desire with good things (Ps 102:5). And this rest is the rest of the soul; I have labored a little, and have found much rest to myself (Sir 51:35). The meek are not set at rest in this way in the world; hence you will find an everlasting rest, namely the fulfillment of desires.

But do not marvel if I invite you to the yoke, because my yoke is not heavy. Why? Because my yoke is sweet, and enjoyable; how sweet are your words to my palate (Ps 118:103). And my burden light.

And these can be referred back to two things. The yoke holds the cows, but a burden is carried; hence the yoke is referred back to the negative commands, the burden to the affirmative commands.

But this seems to be false, because the burden of the new law seems most heavy, as was said above, you have heard that it was said to those of old: ‘you shall not kill’ . . . But I say to you, that whoever is angry with his brother, will be liable to the judgment (Matt 5:21–22). And thus it seems that the burden is heavier. Similarly, it was said above, how narrow is the gate, and straight is the way that leads to life (Matt 7:14). Likewise the Apostle, in many more labors (2 Cor 11:23). Hence the yoke seems most heavy.But this seems to be false, because the burden of the new law seems most heavy, as was said above, you have heard that it was said to those of old: ‘you shall not kill’ . . . But I say to you, that whoever is angry with his brother, will be liable to the judgment (Matt 5:21–22). And thus it seems that the burden is heavier. Similarly, it was said above, how narrow is the gate, and straight is the way that leads to life (Matt 7:14). Likewise the Apostle, in many more labors (2 Cor 11:23). Hence the yoke seems most heavy.

For this reason, two things should be considered: the effect of the teaching and the circumstances of actions; and in all things it is light. The teaching of Christ is light in its effect, because it changes the heart. For it makes us not love temporal things, but rather spiritual things: for the one who loves temporal things, to lose only a little is more heavy for him than for the one who loves spiritual things to lose a great deal. The old law did not forbid those temporal things, so it was heavy for them to lose them; but now, although in the beginning a small amount was heavy, yet afterward it was too little; I will lead you by the paths of equity: which when you will have entered, your steps will not be straitened (Prov 4:11). Likewise, as regards action, the law burdened one with exterior actions. But our law is only in the will; hence, for the kingdom of God is not meat and drink (Rom 14:17). Likewise, the law of Christ renders right actions pleasant; hence the Apostle, but justice, and peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit (Rom 14:17).

Similarly, the new law is light as regards circumstance, because there are many adversities. Hence, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus, will suffer persecution (2 Tim 3:12). But these are not heavy, because they are seasoned with the spice of love. For when someone loves something, whatever he suffers for it is not heavy to him: hence love makes all heavy and impossible things light. Hence if someone loves Christ well, nothing is heavy for him, and so the new law does not burden him.

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In their eagerness to proclaim the unity of God and man in Christ, some heretics went to the opposite extreme and taught that not only was there one person, but also a single nature, in God and man. This error took its rise from Arius. To defend his position that those scriptural passages where Christ is represented as being inferior to the Father, must refer to the Son of God Himself, regarded in His assuming nature, Arius taught that in Christ there is no other soul than the Word of God who, he maintained, took the place of the soul in Christ’s body. Thus when Christ says, in John 14:28, “The Father is greater than I,” or when He is introduced as praying or as being sad, such matters are to be referred to the very nature of the Son of God. If this were so, the union of God’s Son with man would be effected not only in the person, but also in the nature. For, as we know, the unity of human nature arises from the union of soul and body.

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RESTORATION OF MAN BY GOD THROUGH THE INCARNATION

We indicated above that the reparation of human nature could not be effected either by Adam or by any other purely human being. For no individual man ever occupied a position of pre-eminence over the whole of nature; nor can any mere man be the cause of grace. The same reasoning shows that not even an angel could be the author of man’s restoration. An angel cannot be the cause of grace, just as he cannot be man’s recompense with regard to the ultimate perfection of beatitude, to which man was to be recalled. In this matter of beatitude angels and men are on a footing of equality. Nothing remains, therefore, but that such restoration could be effected by God alone.

But if God had decided to restore man solely by an act of His will and power, the order of divine justice would not have been observed. justice demands satisfaction for sin. But God cannot render satisfaction, just as He cannot merit. Such a service pertains to one who ...

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Once the app launches all you'll have to do is use your same username and password to login ... More on that when it launches (not for a few months)

Pumped.

Incidentally your support here on Locals is what makes it possible to pay for this bloody app. Not cheap.

Love you guys!

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Welcome to Locals!

A big and hearty welcome to all who have joined our Locals community!

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  1.  Interviews one week early (before they hit Youtube)
  2. The opportunity to ask my guests questions
  3. Exclusive biweekly spiritual direction videos from Fr. Pine
  4. Access to video courses such as:
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5. Occasional livestreams with me.

6. Knowing that you're supporting the work of Pints With Aquinas.

Thanks!

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A Practical Method For Spiritual Warfare
 
In this article, I want to suggest a powerful, practical method for spiritual warfare—one that I believe will be a game-changer in your everyday life. We'll explore how consistently announcing what is true and renouncing what is false can become a potent weapon, helping you navigate the unseen battles that often manifest as struggles in our thoughts and emotions.
 
At the Catholic Easter Vigil Mass, there is a significant moment where the congregation renews their Baptismal Promises.

In essence, the priest leads the faithful to announce what is true and to renounce what is false.

For the purposes of this article we’ll begin with the questions that invite annunciations. He asks:

"Do you believe in God, the Father almighty, Creator of heaven and earth?"

"Do you believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was born of the Virgin Mary, suffered death and was buried, rose again from the dead and is seated at the right hand of the Father?"

"Do you believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting?"

In responding “I do” to these questions, we are in a very real sense aligning ourselves with reality. While emotions may be present, they don’t need to be. Simply stating our agreement with the way things are is enough.

Prior to the above questions are a series of questions which invite renunciation:

"Do you renounce sin, so as to live in the freedom of the children of God?"

"Do you renounce the lure of evil, so that sin may have no mastery over you?"

"Do you renounce Satan, the author and prince of sin?"

In responding “I do” to these questions, we are renouncing, repudiating, what is false.

To those who may attend Holy Mass once or twice a year they may be surprised to discover just how seriously the Church takes the reality of the Devil and spiritual warfare. But anyone somewhat familiar with the Scriptures and the consistent teaching of the Church would not be. Here I could dump a multitude of Scriptural verses proving my point, but one will suffice. From the first letter of St. Peter:

"Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world."

And now for the main point of this article: Just as it is beneficial to regularly align ourselves with what is true (say through an act of faith), it is also beneficial to regularly repudiate, and disassociate with, what is false.

And given that our lives are situated squarely within a world at war. A world which “lies in the power of the evil one.” in which demonic forces are seeking to blind us to the things of God (2 Cor. 4:4). This is something we are going to be needing to do in one form or another on a daily basis. Multiple times a day.

Let me offer a personal anecdote that will illustrate this. I was about to interview someone on a topic that I knew would get blowback from the Demonic realm. I was going on a walk praying my rosary before my guest arrived. While I was walking I slowly became aware of a sort of oppressive force. I felt sad and restricted, somehow. Anxious. I’m not sure how long I was feeling that way, but at any rate I didn’t become conscious of it until that moment. I stopped walking and tried to sum up what I was experiencing in a word. It clicked. intimidation. That’s was it. I felt intimidated. And so I said the following prayer:

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Life is very, very simple, actually.

There is a lot going on. We are confused about many things. Embarrassed that we are confused. Pretend not to be. Have a few soundbites we can rely on when the conversation turns to Trump or the state of the Church or what is going on in Israel and Gaza or the AI revolution. We hope they don’t press us because we know enough to answer two or three questions before they will hit bedrock and we will have nothing.

All of this can lead us to believe the lie that life is complicated. And since we cannot figure it out, we should either quit, or numb, or pretend, or run ourselves ragged trying to understand everything we think we should understand.

And yet life is simple. Very, very simple. There is very little to figure out.

Love what is good. Hate what is evil. But how? When I have willingly habituated myself to do the opposite. Pray. Repent. Keep turning away from distractions. Don’t hate yourself for failing. Hope in the good God who is better than you think He is. Who cares for you more than you think He does.

What are your duties? Do them with joy and attention. Don’t hate yourself when you fail at this. Pray. Repent. Have a sense of humor about your littleness. You are incredibly loved after all, remember?

Turn away from what is useless and petty and vulgar and think about what is excellent.

Say “Your will be done” 100 times a day, especially when things are bad or seem meaningless. Your headache. Your bad night sleep. The house you can’t seem to get around to tidying.

Be patient and gentle with stupid people who can’t seem to make themselves love or want to love what is good, yourself first and foremost.

Jesus, help me want to want to love you. Help me want to want to hate anything opposed to you or your kingdom.

Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
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