Wednesday, July 19, 2017

15th Week, Ordinary Time, Thursday, 20-07-17

Exodus 3:13-20 / Matthew 11:28-30

Throughout the course of history, there are wicked kings, tyrants, dictators, rulers and those with authority and might who will resort to oppressing people.

And most of the time, the people are quite helpless and powerless against such oppression and they can only hope and wait for deliverance.

Such was the case of the Israelites in the 1st reading. They suffered under the oppression of the Pharaoh and the Egyptian slave-drivers and they cried out to God for deliverance.

And God did hear their cry, and as God said, "For myself, knowing that the king of Egypt will not let you go unless he is forced by a mighty hand. I shall show my power and strike Egypt with all the wonders I am going to work there. After this he will let you go".

But someone has to be the deliverer and Moses was the chosen one. But he was not too willing to take on the task and he tried to find ways to get out of it.

After all he was a free man, but his people were held under the bondage of slavery in Egypt. It would mean that he will have to make the sacrifice to go back to Egypt and to face Pharaoh.

It comes back to the recurring situation in life where everybody wants to benefit but no one is willing to make the sacrifice.

But Jesus tells us in the gospel to shoulder His yoke and to learn from Him. He made the sacrifice of His life so that we can be free and be saved.

So when our charity is spreading thin and we are not that willing to make the sacrifice for the good of others, let us go to Jesus with our fatigue and burdens.

We will find rest for our souls, and with a gentle and humble heart, we will follow Jesus to lift the oppression and the burdens of others.