2022.09.06 Messages from Sr.MarJo

(Matthew 11:28-30)

²⁸ Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.

²⁹ Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

³⁰ For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.

 

First of all, let me welcome you back after a brief summer pause that I hope was meaningful and life-giving.
We continue with our mornings together – where I have been introducing you to someone whom I fell in love with and decided to give myself and my life to. And that is Jesus Christ.
It has been several mornings of stories about Jesus Christ – his words and actions in the hope that you can find in him an example to follow or at least some guide points to make your life better and more meaningful.

Today, I chose his words in the Good News according to St. Matthew – one of the four Jesus Christ storytellers.
Let us try to understand the context. He speaks to those who are weary and burdened. Today, when we look around us, we see many who are weary and burdened. Maybe even among us here, there are those of us who are weary and burdened.

Jesus says to them:
“come to me and I will refresh you…”

 

Yesterday I came across a true story about a woman on a bus, caught in traffic that was not moving, at the end of the day. As one would expect – people were tired and impatient in the bus, so that the air was thick and filled with anger. People were not minding each other and one could feel that with very little provocation one would burst into rage.
Until something happened.
The driver got on the loudspeaker and said:
“Hello everyone,” he said, “I know you have had a rough day and you are frustrated. I cannot do anything about the traffic, but here is what I can do. As each one of you gets off the bus, I will reach out my hand to you. As you walk by, drop your troubles into the palm of my hand, okay? Don’t take your problems home to your families tonight, just leave them with me. My route goes right by the river, and when I drive by the river later, I will open the window and throw your troubles in the water.”
It was as if the heaviness was lifted. Everyone burst out laughing. Faces looked surprised with delight. People who did not mind or look at each each other were suddenly smiling at each other.
And true to his word, at every stop, just as he promised, the driver reached out his hand, palm up, and waited. One by one, all the passengers getting off placed their hand just above his with the gesture of dropping something into his palm. Some people laughed as they did this, some had tears, but everyone did it.
The driver repeated the same lovely ritual at the next stop…and the next. All the way to the river.

 

We live in a hard world. Sometimes it is extra difficult to be a human being. Sometimes you have a bad day. Sometimes you have a bad day that lasts for several weeks. You struggle and fail. You lose people you love, friends and colleagues disappoint you, you fail exams… the list can go on and on. You witness horrible events unfolding in the news, and you become fearful and withdrawn. There are times when everything seems hopeless and dark. You long for the light but don’t know where to find it.

 

But what if you are the light?

What if you could be the source of light in a dark situation?

That’s what this bus driver was, this is what Jesus means by inviting you to “come to him”. Anyone can be the light, at any moment. Anyone can be Jesus at any moment. This guy was not some big power player. He was a bus driver, one of society’s most invisible workers. But he possessed real power, and he used it beautifully for others.

This is what ONENESS means.

We can be light for one another? Each one of us can have some influence on another.
No matter who you are, or where you are, or how ordinary or challenging your situation may seem, you can light up your world…

“…one simple act at a time, all the way to the river.”

 

Let me do this for you today…

There will be boxes at the door as you go out… on your way out, drop your troubles or whatever burdens or wearies you in them, and I will take them and throw them off to the field so that whatever troubles, burdens or wearies you, may be taken away and carried and blown by the wind.

Thank you.