Jesus used the words
of the prophets to point to who He was. Before we begin, I’ll share these words
that point to who we are, “The beginning of the Christian life is easy, the
end joyous; but in the middle - battles take place!” (Viola)
Jesus used these words
from the Book of Sirach "Come to me, all you who
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; and you will find rest for
yourselves, for my yoke is easy, and my burden light."
Jesus refers to
himself as a place of rest. These are words of wisdom; especially for those of
us in the middle, where battles take place.
There is a young
woman, beautiful, with loving husband and healthy and attractive children. She
has a great job and a nice home. The world would say she’s got it made; but,
she has burdens many will never carry. She battles for peace, trying to break the
warrior’s bow that targets her life.
She comes to Jesus
each week at mass. She comes with a broken heart washed in tears. She takes all
that she has, all her burdens, and gives them to Jesus.
She has realized the
truth. We can only give to the Lord who and what we are. This includes the
burdens and sufferings in our lives, “Come to me, all
you who labor and are burdened and I will give you rest.” This promise
is words of comfort.
We all have burdens
and nobody needs to tell us. We can look
at our life and make a list. Burdens cannot
be erased from lives. Suffering cannot be expunged from the world. But, when burdens
or sufferings descend upon us, there is a safe place to go far beyond our
troubles, “Come and I will give you rest.”
Those who see clearly
know that everything can lead us to God. Everything and everywhere, even
burdens and sufferings become a juncture for good and an occasion for encounter
with God.
He will use even
bad situations for good. God, the Father, will bend down low to raise us up. He
comes to us a humble and loving God. We know “… and no
one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to who the Son wishes to reveal
Him.”
He is Jesus, the
word of God that lives in the world. He is God that experienced the burdens of humanity,
love, hunger, thirst, and sufferings. Jesus Christ is the love of our Heavenly
Father that bent down to bring us up.
God is the Holy
Spirit that continues to lift us up. The Holy Spirit is
continuously at work in the world and move us towards God’s plan for us.
A plan so perfect even
burdens, suffering, and tragedy can bring us to Him. God’s plan makes them part
of the solution; so, we see in truth. The truth found in the cross Christ
revealed to us. Like the cross which came from this world, burdens and
sufferings are parts of living in this world.
We are exposed to a
world where success is to have control; control of the situation and others. We
are shown that power comes from having an advantage over others. Strength is
said to be monetary wealth and possessions.
Jesus says learn
from me. “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for
I am meek and humble of heart, and you will find rest for yourselves.” Carrying
a burden and suffering bears true fruit as we change and heal by taking on the
yoke of Christ.
There was a man who
was a professional. Successful and prestigious, he had money and power over many.
Then his child contracted a terminal illness. It broke him. He could not find
comfort in his success, money, power, and prestige.
This man and his
family found rest by embracing the meek and humble
heart of Jesus. They found the just savior who triumphs over the battles
of the world.
In burdens and
sufferings, you know who are in God. Either you turn away from God or you run
to Him. God is the one in control. God is the only one with power and advantage
over our burdens and sufferings.
Scripture tells us, The Spirit of the one who raised Jesus from the dead will
give you life. Look around, many are
quietly carrying their burdens. We don’t know the battles they fight. They come
to the one who can give them life. They come to true comfort, the one who gives
them rest.
Look
at yourself, He will give you rest.
Yall be good, yall
be holy and preach the gospel by the way you live and love. Amen.
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