Memorial of Kateri Tekakwitha, virgin
(Isaiah 26:7-9.12.16-19;
Matthew 11: 28-30)
Kateri
(Catherine) Tekakwitha is one of the virgins in the gospel parable waiting for
the bridegroom. Still a recent convert
to Christianity, she made a relationship with the Lord her priority
ambition. Native -American custom
dictated that she marry a man of her tribe.
But Kateri insisted that she would live for Christ alone. In this way she demonstrates how to respond
to Jesus’ call in today’s gospel.
Jesus
addresses himself to poor peasants. They
are being despised by the Pharisees for not keeping the law. Jesus, however, does not reject them. Although
his “yoke” or way of living the law may be stricter than that of Pharisees, it
becomes easy. He promises to be their
model, their helper, and their coach. He
calls forth the best from followers because he is so good.
Often people have difficulty following Christian
morals. They may look at the moral life more like the Pharisees than like
Jesus. Morality has become for them more
a set of rules to be obeyed than a way of accompanying Jesus. It is not hard if we stay close to him.
