9-Dec-15

Gospel MT 11:28-30
Jesus said to the crowds:
“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.”
Reflection:
"For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.”
What is this easy yoke that Jesus is talking about? What is this light burden that he urges us to carry?
Jesus is telling us to throw off the heavy burden of doing good out of obligation and instead, put on His yoke of love, to love as He loves us.
We know from personal experience that when we do something for someone we love then even the most difficult task fills our heart with joy.
Loving those we care for comes easy. But, are we able to expand our hearts to embrace with love "all" whom we meet?
At My Brother's Keeper, we gather to pray each morning.
"Lord, give us loving hearts this day with all whom we encounter, both those whom we serve and those whom we serve with, that we may fulfill our mission to bring your love and hope into the world."
This embracing of God's yoke of love is what enables the volunteers at My Brother's Keeper to go forth each day to carry refrigerators and heavy furniture up stairs and into the apartments of our sisters and brothers in need.
This is what makes our burden light.
The anticipation of giving those we serve a crucifix with the message: "We are just the delivery people. This is the man who sent you the furniture."
Learning that the person we gave a bed to then gave that bed away to someone else who was sleeping on the floor makes us aware that the "the yoke of love" can fit all who choose to wear it.

Give away your love, freely and without expectation. Give it away, and soon your life will be filled with love, and you will have set others on the path of love and peace -- John Robbins