Do you really know?

The story is told about three friends who were at a bar and saw a customer who was drunk. Thinking that he was dead drunk, and knowing that he could not possibly make it home alone, they decided to accompany him.  Along the way, he fell down several times. When finally they turned him over to the wife, she said:  “Thank you so much! But what did you do with his wheelchair?”

Often we think we know, or pretend to know, but do we really know?  In today’s Gospel (Mt. 11, 25-30), Jesus says:  “No one knows the Son except the Father. No one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal Him.” Do we really know God?  We talk about Him, preach about Him, but do we really know Him? We can truly know God if we really take time to listen to Jesus, and allow Him to reveal Himself to us.  Even in prayer, especially in prayer, let us talk less, and listen more to God.

Jesus tells us today:  “Come to me all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest.”  If we really know God, there is no reason for us to be anxious or worried.  We have the assurance that He will give us rest, and that we are not alone in our burdens and pains.

Jesus also tells us today: “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart.” If we really know God, we cannot and should not be proud.  It is amazing how some people can claim that they know God and even claim to be close to Him, but are proud and arrogant. If we really know God, we must become more and more meek and humble like Him.

“Humility” has become such a lonely word in our present day and time. It seems that people have become more rough, proud and angry in thought, word and deed. We have to learn meekness and humility again and again.

“For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.”  We have the privilege to have a God who wants to share our load with Him. Do you feel overburdened? That’s because you have not quite learned to surrender to and trust in the Lord. You are still a control freak, and still rely more on your worldly position and possessions rather than on the Lord.  Just let go, and let God.

Let us share each other’s burdens. Let us help carry the load of others. There are a lot of people suffering  around us. There are a lot of realities and issues that confront us in our country. Now is not the time to say, “I don’t know and I don’t care!”

If you cannot share the load of others, at least please don’t become a load to them. They have enough of their own.

July 11 is the Feast of St. Benedict who taught us “Ora et Labora.”  Pray and work! Yes, as someone once put it, let us pray as if everything depended upon God, and work as if everything depended upon us.

We pray to St. Benedict to protect us from the snares of the evil one, from accidents, and sickness, and shield us from bad people with bad intentions. May St. Benedict intercede for us to live holy lives, and give us the grace of a holy death.

“May the Holy Cross be my light; may the dragon never be my guide; be gone, Satan; never tempt me with your vanities; what you offer me is evil; drink the poison yourself.”  Let us continue to pray and propagate this prayer of deliverance by St. Benedict.

Thought for the journey: “Always highlight your blessings. Replace any negativity with positivity. Think happy thoughts, speak happy words, do happy deeds. Inspire yourself! Give someone a compliment, do a random act of kindness, take chances, start living life to its fullest. No matter what others may throw at you today, smile and give your blessing instead. Life is too short to be spent on useless thoughts and negative feelings.”

Think about this: “Our Christian goal in life is Godliness, not happiness; character, not reputation; virtue, not wealth; faith, not fame; the approval of God, not that of men.”

A moment with the Lord: Lord, help us to really know You, and become more like You. Amen.