Thursday, July 19, 2012

A great invitation


The Prophet Isaiah in the text today from the Roman CatholicLectionary celebrates the smooth path of those who seek righteousness in the union of their spirit with the Spirit of God. Friar Jude Winkler points out that the author in this passage from the Book of Isaiah uses humour to express, as wind, the fruitlessness of the efforts of those who have been experiencing chastisement from God for their actions which were not according to His will. The prophet presents the hope of a resurrection and a restoration of life with God for those both physically dead and spiritually separated from intimate communion with God. The experience of desolation and isolation is part of our journey. Friar Jude evokes the image of the yoke presented in the Gospel of Matthew today as the device which allowed two oxen to pull together a straight line of overturned soil in the field. We understand how difficult it would be to prepare the field with one ox. Jesus offers to be yoked with us as we work. We have the experience of our burdens being lightened when we abandon doing it by ourselves, our way to accepting the help from friends, family and even strangers. The help from the One who knows us eternally and completely and will never abandon us is grace indeed which lifts the work of the journey to praise for His compassion.

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