FOURTEENTH SUNDAY OF YEAR "A"

FOURTEENTH SUNDAY OF THE YEAR

Cycle “A”: Mt. 11, 25 – 30

Let me tell you the story of the abbot of a monastery who was very trusting. He had a young disciple who showed so much promise that he let him live on his own in a simple hut on the riverbank. Every night, happy as a lark, the boy-monk, put out his loincloth to dry. It was his only possession. But one morning he was dismayed to find it had been torn to shreds by the rats. So he begged for a second loincloth from the villagers who obliged. But the persistent rats destroyed that one too. So the young monk got a cat. But then he had to beg for food not only for himself but also for milk for the cat. To get around that he bought a cow. But then he had to look for fodder. He cleverly concluded, “It would be easier to work the land around my hut and obtain the fodder.” But that would leave him no leisure for meditation. So he hired workers. But checking on them would be too much on him. So he married a wife who could nag the labourers to do the job. Pretty soon he became one of the wealthiest people in the village. Several years later the abbot of the monastery came back to find a mansion where the hut had once stood. He asked sharply, “What is the meaning of this ?” The abashed young disciple replied, “Holy abbot, you may not believe this; but there was no other way to maintain my loincloth.”

Jesus has no tolerance for people who put monkeys on our backs. But he is even more annoyed when we ourselves strap them there. Take, for instance, the Jewish teachers of the Law. With their multiplication of laws and regulations they placed intolerable burdens on the simple folk like a heavy yoke. But Jesus is one who multiplies happiness and divides sadness. He invited men and women in a very personal way to carry his yoke. “For my yoke is easy and my burden light, and I am meek and humble of heart” It’s precisely because he is gentle and lowly of heart that his yoke is easy, that he understands and forgives when we feel the pressure of temptation and fall into sin.

Let’s come back to ourselves. Do we build an empire just to safeguard some small fancy about ourselves ? Do we really need all the possessions in our houses ? As clever as we might be, we can only wear one dress at a time. There is a line in an Irish song, “I don’t want what I don’t have.” To be upset over what you don’t have is to waste what you do have. Besides, even if we had everything, where would we put it ? Someone has said, “The best gift you can give your friend who has everything is a burglar alarm.” Some people work overtime as though there will be no tomorrow. Still others are constantly travelling, even to make one retreat after another, thereby neglecting their families. Family members become strangers. The great comedian, Bob Hope, said he first realised he had to take his family on the road with him when years ago he said to his eight year old, “Bye, Tomy,” and the child chirped, “Bye, Bob Hope.”  Groucho Marx, another great comedian, had a very out-going daughter. One evening for the umpteenth time she told Groucho Marx, “I’ll be out tonight; hope you don’t mind.” Groucho replied, “Oh, not at all; I’m only your father.”

St. Paul, in his letter to the Romans (8,13), advises us to shake those monkeys off our back and become free. “Do not live as your human nature tells you to; you live as the Spirit tell you.” Obviously Paul wants us to have some leisure time to become more interesting Christians. Most of us have studied the Gospels and concluded that they are too difficult, and so we have turned to religion. After all, we tell ourselves that belonging to a religion is much easier than being religious and less demanding than serving Christ. We say, if I give the religion an hour on Sunday and put some money in the bag, I can get on  with my real life.

Yet, is the Gospel that difficult ? St. Mathew in today’s Gospel records the words of Jesus to his Father, “Father, what you have hidden from the learned and the clever you have revealed to merest children.” William Barclay, the well known Bible scholar illustrates the point with a delightful story. One day the mayor of a town ran into Jesus Christ, and asked, “Is there anyone here who will be saved ?” Christ looked about and said, “No one but that couple.” The mayor asked the couple what they did. They replied, “We are merrymakers. When we see people depressed, we cheer them up. When we see them quarrelling, we try to make peace among them.” You cannot be lonely if you help the lonely. So, people who do simple things will reach the Kingdom. Many of us do try to play the Christian, but after a few setbacks give up the struggle and become our usual dull and nasty selves. Once again Christ has considered that possibility. He says in today’s verse 28, “Come to me all you who are weary and find life burdensome, and I will refresh you.” This is a clear invitation to brush up against him and allow some of his magic to rub off onto us.

PRAYER:   (based on the words of Raymond Hockley):

Lord, I ask for that quietness of mind and spirit which reflects the stillness of the heart of God, as a calm sea reflects the shining stars. Enable me to hear the still small voice of eternity speaking through the sounds of time, that I may dwell in your peace and be one with your love,

Through Jesus Christ our Lord.