HOMILY FOR 2ND WEDNESDAY OF ADVENT — YEAR A
HOMILY FOR 2ND WEDNESDAY OF ADVENT — YEAR A
HOMILY THEME: “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest.”
BY: Fr. Mike Lagrimas
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.”
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The Gospel reading today is very short. It is composed of only three verses. But it contains two extremely important invitations: “Come to me” and “Learn from me.”
In the first place, Jesus shows His knowledge of the human condition and His compassion towards those who suffer and are heavily burdened in life. Man’s weakness and inclination to sin, and the imperfections and limitations of nature all contribute to the hardships and sufferings in the world. That is why the world is called “valley of tears.” But God never promises nor intends to take them away. In fact, He even sent His own Son who endured even greater sufferings: “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has similarly been tested in every way, yet without sin” (Heb 4:15).
This means that God never abandons us in this ‘valley of tears’. Rather, He even suffers with us. This is what the word ‘compassion’ means – ‘to suffer with’. Hence, in the Gospel today we hear the tender and loving invitation of Jesus: “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest.”
While in this world, we can never avoid tribulations and sufferings. But they are easier to bear when we know that we are not alone in our difficulties and sorrows, when someone else carries them with us. It is, indeed, quite comforting to hear Jesus inviting us to carry our burdens with Him: “For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.”
However, lest we get the impression that following Jesus means passive acceptance of suffering and having a defeatist disposition, the Lord offers another invitation: “Learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart.”
Jesus is making reference to the Scribes and Pharisees, the ‘wise and the learned’. By their teachings and their own interpretations of the Mosaic Law, they impose heavy burdens that are impossible for people to carry. Hence, Jesus instead offers this option: “Learn from me.”
In the first place, He is “meek and humble”, unlike the religious leaders of His time who are arrogant and proud. Secondly, the ‘yoke’ He is talking about is not the 630 laws in the Torah, but the one Law of Love. When the ‘yoke’ is borne with love, it becomes easier and lighter. And thirdly, the ‘yoke’ that Jesus is referring to is a double yoke used for two oxen pulling together. In effect, He is saying that He does not impose, but carries the yoke together with us.
The challenges and difficulties of life are necessary for us to grow and mature. Trying to avoid them is pointless…and even dangerous. That is what happens to children who are pampered and protected by over doting parents. They are weak and they end up becoming spoiled brats. Let us just make sure we are not carrying these burdens alone, but always together with Jesus. And, because of our own experience of sufferings and pains, we become stronger and are in a much better position to help others carry their burdens and sorrows as well.
Instead of complaining about life’s difficulties and trials, let us learn the lesson of today’s Gospel from the birds. They do not ever complain about the weight of their wings, for they know these are the ones that carry them up high in the skies. May we never complain about the burdens in life but rather, give thanks to God and use them to soar to the heights of greatness and holiness.
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