Wednesday – St. Bonaventure  

Gospel – Matthew 11:25-27

Carrying the Load

St. Joseph Church, Norris TN

The social hall here at St. Joseph Church in Norris, TN also doubles as the overflow area for Sunday Masses.  We just set up folding chairs to handle the crowd,  And during the summer months, we do get a lot of “lake people’, visitors spending their vacation in the area. 

It’s an unwritten rule that, after Mass, everyone folds up their chair and puts it away, clearing the hall in a matter of minutes.  Last Sunday, after Mass, I noticed one little boy, probably 3 or 4 years old, dutifully fold his chair and store it away.  What impressed me was that no one directed him to do it; he just went about the task like normal.  Mind you, that chair was easily a foot taller than him.  And yet he just dragged it like it was nothing. 

Such a good example for all of us.  He did his share; he shouldered the burden easily and happily!

Today’s Gospel speaks of the need for us all to become like little children.  God has revealed Himself not to the wise but to the child-like.  Truth be told, as we grow, we all become a bit jaded, cynical;  we seem to develop this hard shell where we keep the world out and our emotions inside.  Jesus reminds us today that we need to become like that little child.  We need to keep that sense of wonder, that feeling of looking at things for the first time, fresh and clean and new.  We need to take the time to stand in awe of the simple things like a newly blossomed flower, the beauty of a rainbow, the touch of a loving hand and even a simple folding chair.  Yes, that means stop and smell the roses!

But that also means we need to let go of our burdens, to lighten our load, to not get so wrapped up in the stresses of life that we miss the obvious – God loves us!  We need to take on some of that self-lessness that a child possesses and move away from our own ego and self-importance.  Take that weight off your shoulders and find that child within

Creator, help us today to learn how to share – to share our burdens with those who care, to share Your Spirit with those who need a gentle voice and a supportive shoulder!

 


 

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