My Yoke is Easy December 13

My Yoke is Easy December 13

Memorial of Saint Lucy, virgin and martyr (Santa Lucia)

Though young men faint and grow weary, and youths stagger and fall, They that hope in the LORD will renew their strength, they will soar as with eagles’ wings; They will run and not grow weary, walk and not grow faint. Isaiah 40:30-31

For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.” Matthew 11:30

Piety

Saint Lucy, you did not hide your light under a basket, but let it shine for the whole world, for all the centuries to see. We may not suffer torture in our lives the way you did, but others experience it today. We are still called to let the light of our Christianity illumine our daily lives. Please help us to have the courage to bring our Christianity into our work, our play, our relationships, and our conversations -- every corner of our day. Amen.[1]

Study
http://www.usccb.org/nab/121306.shtml

Blindness and its opposite – seeing properly – is a theme in today’s readings.

Jesus tells us not to be discouraged by our physical blindness and handicaps. Jesus will not give us a burden to heavy to bear or too hard to carry. The doors of the Churches of the world are open to those with burdens and to those who work.

As we contemplate the coming Christmas season, let’s remember the first people who learned of Jesus’ birth…the shepherds at work in their fields saw the star in the sky. Angels announced the birth of the Messiah to them FIRST. The workers. Not to the kings. Not to the Pharisees. Not to the Sadducees. The humble, powerless workers were the first to know.

A yoke is a wooden crosspiece attached to the heads or necks of oxen in order to get work done – from pulling a wagon to plowing a field. God’s gift will be presented first to those who labor – those who have a yoke to bear to get work done.

Action

Lucy is the patron saint of the blind. Braille is an important means of communication for those with visual impairment or blindness. Support the teaching of braille in schools and learn about it yourself by calling your local chapter of the National Federation of the Blind.[2] Visit their web page at http://www.nfb.org/nfb/Default.asp to learn more about the organization and how you can help the blind.

[1] http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=75
[2] http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=75