We all know that in this life, we’ll have many struggles, sorrows, and pains. Sometimes we have crosses that seem too heavy to bear and too difficult to understand. Other times, we may find ourselves stuck in a sin that appears impossible to overcome, and it really weighs us down. But, the words that Jesus speaks to us today are very consoling.
He says if we come to Him with our troubles he will give us the freedom and rest, which we all long for. And that his burden is light, and His yoke is easy.
But we may ask, how can Jesus’s yoke be easy and his burden light? After all, He was crucified and calls us to carry our crosses and follow after him!?
But, it is precisely by his crucifixion and resurrection that He can make our burdens light. Jesus already carried the cross of sins and overcame the powers of death. And he desires to help us carry our hardships.
St. Francis de Sales wrote about how bees eat bitter nectar and turn it into sweet honey, and that when we embrace our sufferings and persevere in love and make sacrifices, the bitterness of the hardship is turned into sweet delights of love for God and others. Doing this is very pleasing to God. And it can slowly transform our souls to be more like Christ who was very meek and humble especially during his passion and death. Then, we can mature in our faith and become more holy, staying on the path of righteousness.
But what is the point of suffering anyways? This question does not have an easy answer, but I think God is always teaching us something through it all.
When we go through trials, we learn lessons about ourselves and we realize that we need God to help us and that we cannot overcome certain challenges on our own.
Sometimes it is only in looking back after the fact that we can see God’s guiding hand and better understand the reasons for our struggles. Although at other times, the reasons remain a mystery.
And God also wants to use our trials for some good. Usually, it is to draw us closer to Himself, or for the sake of someone else – as our prayers for others when we are suffering are powerful.
And, when we turn to Jesus during hard times, He helps us to grow in the virtues of love, patience, and trust. We can only develop these, however, if we are tested and challenged.
So we remember that we are never alone in our burdens or when we suffer and we can call upon Jesus to lighten our load and lift us up. With the help of grace, we can trust that God is using our sufferings for some greater good. Then we can walk, yoked to Christ on the narrow road to heaven where we will enjoy God’s sweet love forever.