Thursday of the Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time
(Isaiah 26:7-9.12.16-19; Matthew 11:28-30)
A television drama featured the story of a Catholic
school teacher. The woman was fired for
having conceived a baby through in vitro fertilization. The drama portrayed the Church as dominated
by rules and regulations with little compassion for barren couples. Although people do not like to think of Jesus
acting in this way, his Sermon on the Mount certainly sounds unrelenting
regarding obligations and prohibitions.
In it he demands perfection and prohibits divorce. One wonders then what Jesus could mean in
today’s gospel when he says, “My yoke is easy.”
His yoke seems to be very difficult, indeed. Perhaps the reason for this perception is
that most people think of it as a code of conduct. But that is not what it is at all. Jesus’ yoke is his relationship with God, his
Father. He, more than anyone else, knows
God to be his Father who always cares for him.
He delivers himself to evil men knowing that things will turn out all
right. He now offers his followers a
share in this relationship. They too can
feel the freedom of being children of God.
We should realize that people do not need a lot of things
to be thrive as human beings. Indeed,
having things often is a prescription to misery. But we do need loving relationships. When we join the Church, we are adopted into
God’s family. We help one another
appreciate how to live as God’s children.
The relationship with the Father, with Jesus, and with one another
brings a modicum of happiness. It is likely
that others will take note of our happiness and join us. It is certain that we will experience fulness
of happiness in eternal life.
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