A Letter from Fr. Paul - Sunday, July 9th

In our Gospel reading last week, Jesus told us how to be hospitable and reach out to others, especially those in need.  This week, Jesus is telling us how to navigate the stress and problems of life, which are inevitable.  There are three parts to what He tells us.
 
First, come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. We have to turn to Jesus and allow Him and His values to be a part of our lives.  He is there, He is waiting, but we have to “come to” Him or He won’t be able to help.
 
Second, take my yoke upon you and learn from me. Once we turn to Jesus, we have to learn from Him, that is, follow His way of life.  It is not just acknowledging Him, but emulating Him and His way of relating to others.  That is His “yoke.”
 
Finally, Jesus makes it crystal clear what that yoke is: for I am meek and humble of heart. When we are meek and humble, we don’t have to be first, we don’t need to be in competition, we can think of others and be compassionate and share, we don’t hold onto hurts, we forgive, etc. etc. We live the beatitudes. We flow in harmony with others.  And then the result comes: we will find rest for our souls.  We discover that the yoke IS easy and the burden light, because we are not struggling and competing and angry and revengeful any more: we are living in harmony with others.  
 
For me, the whole wisdom of the Gospels is summarized in this Come to me…” statement of Jesus.  When we don’t try to go it alone, but rather let Jesus, as well as His way of being, into our lives, we find rest for ourselves, for my yoke is easy and my burden light. We will have interior peace, no matter what is happening around us.
 
I invite us to reflect on this invitation of Jesus, thanking Him for being open to being yoked with us.  God bless.
 
Church sign of the week: Life is like a helicopter. I don't know how to operate one either. Jesus, help me.