Yoked to Jesus

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“Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.” †  Mathew 11: 28-30  What is the labour and burden that Jesus is asking me to deal with? Perhaps I have to let go of the compulsive burden (or is it a sort of entitlement?) that my spouse and children should choose a spiritual path that I know to be right. Jesus accompanied Judas Iscariot to the very end but never deprived him of his freedom to choose his own destiny. Jesus on the other hand, uninterrupted by Judas's choice to reject him, continues to accomplish his mission. He does become a victim of Judas's betrayal but he seldom takes on the victim's identity. In divine wisdom, Jesus chooses to die in our place (and that of Judas) in a redeeming act of love. Rather than being compelled to fix those whom God has entrusted to my headship by m

Growing out of sin

Even though a man sincerely chooses to follow Christ, the sinful nature in him remains. He is able to follow Christ not because he is already free from his sin but because God loved him first.

When we repent and turn to Christ, the grace that God weaves around us is much like a cocoon. Grace is the loving, living presence of God. This unconditional love and the faithful presence of God provide us the right condition to grow and emerge into a beatiful butterfly. When we begin to live in the grace of God, we live no longer by the law of flesh but by the law of the Holy Spirit. We experience freedom.

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. [Rom 8:2]

This cocoon around us is weakened when we commit venial sins and it is completely destroyed when we are in mortal sin. As we know little sin draws us to little more sin. It is so because sin weakens our ability to experience the loving presence of God. [Ref CCC 1863] When we prolong in sin, the external world enters through the pores in the cocoon and awakens the deep-rooted yet dormant sinful habits within us.

It is our responsibility to reject sin and be faithful to Christ by remaining in the state of grace [presence of God] despite the pull of concupiscence. It is our constant communion with God that redeems us from sin. The rate at which the redemption takes place in us is proportional to our cooperation with the grace already made available. When we get accustomed to superior good, we begin to value earthly good as worthless and futile. This experience of the superior good deepens and shapes our thoughts and deeds. It creates new habits. It instills in us new virtues. It influences our thinking, It changes our perceptive, It grants us wisdom. It gives us the grace to remain steadfast.

Do not despair when you sin. Waist no time! Realize God still loves you unconditionally. Announce this Truth loudly to all the voices that accuses you. Return to the loving father. Let his love redeem you. Ask God to give you the strength to press towards the confessional just as the prodigal son arose and made the first step. The cocoon will soon be restored. The robe and the ring awaits. The table is set, the feast is ready. Let us rejoice!

We shall surely fly into eternity, fluttering our beautiful wings.

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. [Thes 5:16-18]

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