Weary and Burdened

Gospel: Matthew 11: 25-30

Come, all who labor and who are burdened.  This is an invitation to the vast majority of the world population.  Those who do not labor and who are not burdened are the wealthy who create the labor and burdens of so many.  Jesus and his family were themselves laborers.  They were aware of the work and the burdens heaped upon the mass of humanity by occupiers and oppressors of every kind.  He saw the desperation it often created.  He wanted to ease this burden.

The mission of Jesus and, by extension, his disciples is to ease the burden and oppression of the working masses.  How often is it the case that the Church fulfills this mission?  Have we instead ourselves been those who create weariness and burdens for others?  Could this be the reason we see a decline in religion over the past century or so?  These questions give us pause and a great deal of material for an examen on our ministry and relationship to the great mass of humanity.  

At the same time, we can reflect on the many ways we can provide such rest and ease from the burdens of life.  Beginning with sacramental ministry and how we might expand such opportunities and access, to the ministries of hospitality and social assistance there is much we can and must do for humanity that faces much distress and exploitation.  It is the task of every Christian, the task of every parish, to continue this ministry of Jesus in the world today.