Gospel-Homily for Thirty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time (2023)

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Who Do You Choose to Lift Your Burdens?

Someone donated a car to our congregation. Yay! So I needed to register the car. I got the form, went to the insurance company, received the stamp, went to the registry of motor vehicles–and the agent told me I had the wrong tax-exempt number. So, I had to get another registration, get a fresh insurance stamp, and return to the RMV. The second agent told us we could not handwrite the form, but we needed to type it out. Three times we had to go. This is called a “burden.” The Lord in the Gospel told the Pharisees that they were placing heavy “burdens” on the people. Yet, that is not the reason why the Lord was upset. He reprimanded them because they did not lift a finger to help the same people. Imagine if I had gone the first time and they had told me, “You have the wrong tax-exempt number,” but instead of sending me away without my registration and plates, they had assured me, “We can help you fix this.” It would have saved me hours.

My flight to Boston was canceled, so they sent me to another airline. When I got to the other terminal, I stood in a long line, and I noticed three ticket agents at the counter.  The first guy never cracked a smile – he was all business.  He kept shaking his head, no…no…no…. His customers looked worried.  The second ticket agent appeared as if it were his first day on the job. He kept running to other agents for assistance. His customers looked frustrated.  The third ticket agent was smiling, laughing, and having a good time.  Her customers looked happy.  I finally got to the front of the line, and the guy who looked like it was his first day on the job called out, “Next,” I turned to the guy behind me and asked, “You want to jump ahead of me?”  And I stood my ground until the happy and smiling woman called, “Next.”  When I approached her, I looked her in the eye and told her, “They canceled my flight. Can you get me to Boston tonight?”  She answered, “We are really booked, but I think I can get you on board.” 

Who do you go to when you are burdened? Which agent do you choose? Does the boss say, “Come to me, and I will give you rest?” I doubt it. Does your teacher lift the burdens for you? Do your kids? Does the IRS tax man remove your burdens and give you tax breaks? You spend six days with people who place heavy burdens on you, and on the seventh day, you drag yourself into church, and the first words you hear are, “The Lord be with you.” What does that mean? It means you made the best decision all week. You went to the right agent, the right person who can help you with your burdens. One day, we are going to die. Only One person in your life can say to you, “I am the resurrection and the life.” Only One Person you know can say, “I will come back to you and take you to Myself so that where I am, you also may be.”  Only One person can say, “Come to me all you who are burdened, and I will give you rest.