Today's Reflections
The Gentle Mastery of Christ
Mt 11:28-30
[Jesus said,] 28“Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. 29Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves. 30For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.”
MY BURDEN LIGHT.
Shortly after my first religious profession, my mother suffered a mild
stroke and was rushed to the hospital. It seemed that the burden of the
whole world was being laid on my shoulders. I was restless and worried. I
also felt guilty for insisting that my mother come to my profession,
which might have caused the stroke. I even questioned God, “Lord, is
this the price of responding to your call?”
I
said a lot of words to God then until I could not think of anything
else to say except, “Yes, Lord, your will be done.” I finally found
myself surrendering all my worries and burdens to Jesus. Days passed,
and my mother gradually recovered and was allowed to go home to the
province. I then felt peace within me.
Jesus
speaks of “my yoke” in the Gospel. The yoke binds two or more animals
that plow the field or carry heavy burdens. The rabbis also speak of the
“yoke of the Torah” that binds the person to God by doing God’s
commands and precepts. Taking the yoke of Jesus is obeying God’s
commandment: that “we should believe in the name of his Son, Jesus
Christ, and love one another just as he commanded us” (1 Jn 3:23). This
command is not burdensome, because we carry it out with Jesus. If we
carry the yoke with love, the burden becomes light.
A
visitor once saw Mother Teresa of Calcutta cleaning an old, sick leper.
She said that she would not do such work even if she were paid a lot of
money. Mother Teresa said she would not do it either for the money. But
she was doing it for the love of Jesus.
Someday, everything will make perfect sense.
So, for now, laugh at the confusion,
smile through the tears,
and keep reminding yourself
that everything happens for a reason.
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