Posted by The WORD in other words (2009) by Fr Rudolf Horst SVD – Christ the King Seminary, Quezon City
Thursday 15th Week in Ordinary Time
Image source: Wikimedia Commons
Who does not labor? Who is not burdened with one or the other problem? So, the invitation of Jesus can be understood as an invitation to all. It is one of those words of Jesus everybody loves.
It feels so good to hear that in a cruel world, in world of suffering and difficulties, that there is at least one who feels compassion. It is an invitation to all those who are struggling to make ends meet and to live in our world the life Christ expects us to live. Jesus’ words sound so different from difficult dogmas and strict regulations. He promises something light and easy. Great!
But wait a minute – what is this “yoke” we are invited to take upon us? Didn’t Jesus speak more than once about the cross we have to take upon us? And: Unless we do that we cannot be his disciples?
There is no denial that Jesus speaks about the cross. But how can a cross be easy and light? It all depends on how we accept our crosses, our problems, our sufferings. If we do it with resentment, with anger against God who allowed such thin, then the cross is heavy, very heavy.
But if we are able to accept difficulties in life in the spirit of penance for the sins we have committed, if we try to unite our sufferings with those of Christ, if we realize that, as He had a Simon of Cyrene who helped him carry his cross, he wants to become our “Simon” who helps us carry our crosses – then, indeed, the burden becomes light and the yoke easy.
Jesus does not take the yoke and the burden away. After all, the disciples cannot have it better than the Master. But we are not alone. We have just to be alert and see in and through whom Christ helps us carry our burden. And don’t forget: He might need you to help carrying the cross of a friend, a neighbor, or someone close to you who suffers alone.
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