Today, Jesus offers us the welcome offer of rest - a happy message especially if one is weighed down by turmoil and burdens. We are living through a difficult time with interest rates rising, and the cost-of-living crisis worsening. We can blame everything, from the fallout from Brexit, to the crisis in Ukraine; however, the truth is that many people are suffering with record referrals to organisations like the SVP, and people using food banks. The rich and powerful, especially in the media can sneeringly deride those who are forced into poverty, as if it is their fault. When you have a healthy bank account and job security it can be so easy to feel superior. For those of us enduring hardship, which is, of course relative, these words are balm to the soul. As the current parliamentary Covid investigation reminds us, the unusual demands of lockdown were a burden and brought deep pain to many, especially to those who had to shield themselves because of age or serious underlying conditions. Those of us who had a relatively stress-free lockdown might never fully appreciate the burden that others had to endure during those difficult days. They might have had to put on a brave face; they might have seemed fine during zoom calls or in your telephone messages; however, they could have been shielding you from their pain and upset.

I hope we learnt to be gentle with each other. That compassion of Jesus must be the way forward in these times too. Jesus reminds us of those who are so often 'not counted' in society: the young ones, the infants. Children will instinctively put their hand into the hand of a person that they trust. As we grow older and become stroppy teenagers, then it's not so 'cool' to hold your mum's hand! However, as we get older, we can develop other dependencies - perhaps in work, alcohol, success, or the need for approval. These can be burdens in their own way and these last few years may have taken away those props that we relied so heavily on in pre-pandemic days. Perhaps those days were an opportunity to place our trust once again in Jesus and return to those childhood roots of trust. The Gospel insight reminds us that the message of Jesus is so simple and does not need degrees, wealth, or power. Only a return to humility can restore our lost innocence and our lost paradise: that honest humility that accepts our status as children before God. To enjoy the peace of Christ we must "put our hand in the hand of the man from Galilee', who guides us along life's journey and helps us to find the way home.

In the Gospel today Jesus makes three invitations:

• Come to me if you are burdened: I encourage you to place whatever burdens, worries and concerns you might have today at the altar as we offer the bread and wine. I pray that our faith and its practice never becomes a burden or an obligation. In this time of hardship, it has been our faith that has encouraged and supported us. As we move on into a sense of new normality, let us rejoice in the gift of faith that we are delighted to share with our families and friends.
• My burden is light: Jesus assures is that no problem or issue will be too great for us. We are children, women and men of liberty. We live in that freedom and light that only Jesus can give. It is in this freedom that we can live our lives to the full, especially as we care for each other.
• Learn from me: Jesus is our ultimate and loving teacher. Jesus will never share a burden with us that he himself has not experienced. Jesus gives us an example to follow: He urges us to be good students and teachers ourselves. Jesus wants us to ensure that we continue to 'this' in memory. As we move forward together, we are called to continue our pilgrimage of trust and faith, trying to make that part of the world in which we live that little bit better.

It is so important that we support and encourage each other; lay aside those petty rows and arguments. Let us open ourselves up to a God who not only understands us fully, but also forgives-can you forgive someone today? It will ease your burden as we move on. We need to be there for each other as we face these interesting times that will make demands on our reserves of strength. Today, as you share the Eucharist, I pray that you remember those who are still burdened on this day of joy and peace. As always, Pope Francis can look at the burdens, pains and brokenness of society and help us to see the transformative power of pain:

The bread spoken of in the Gospel is always bread that is broken. This sends a powerful message for our life as a community: it reminds us that true wealth does not consist simply in multiplying the things we have, but in sharing them fairly with those around us. The broken bread speaks to us of frailty; it demands that we take special care of the vulnerable in our midst. No one should be stigmatized or suffer discrimination. Our Christian way of looking at others refuses to see them as a burden or a problem, but rather as brothers and sisters to be helped and protected. (13/09/2021)

Author: Fr Gerry O'Shaughnessy SDB

Photo by Abhishek Koli on Unsplash