Feast of Catherine of Siena
Readings:
1 John 1:5-22
Matthew 11:25-30
Reflection:
On Good Friday the youth of our parish led the liturgy. On each seat was carefully placed an intricately folded piece of paper in the shape of a rose head. At the time of the Veneration of the Cross the youth came forward first to place their roses at the foot of the cross as a symbol of handing our sins over to Jesus on the Cross. At that very moment a ray of sunshine came through the window at the back of the church and illuminated the sanctuary where they were gathering around the Cross. Indeed Jesus ‘is in the light’, as we read in 1 John 1 today. We are all invited to live in this light.
It is through our baptism that we become part of this light. Baptism is the most fundamental of the sacraments, which we all share – from the youngest to the oldest person, across the world and between our brothers and sisters from different Christian denominations. We are baptised once and forever to become children of God and children of the Light. It is the foundation of our life as Christians.
At our baptisms we are clothed in Christ’s garment and light. We are symbolically dressed with a white garment as we have put on Christ as a new creation and a new way of life. The candle is the new light of Christ in our lives that will light up the way and that is to be enkindled for the rest of our days. This garment and light even if it was given to us many years ago or just now at Easter are as real today as they were all those years ago.
In the Gospel today Jesus says that his revelation is for the children of the world and not for the learned and the clever. Yes, let us keep our faith simple and uncomplicated. If we stay focused just on our jobs, our need for the next fix, our relentless quest for newer and better things we become yoked and bound to them that end up weighing us down and stuck in ruts. Jesus wants to lift these burdens off our shoulders and to give us true rest, comfort and purpose. As the synodal children of God we journey together so that the yoke is shared among us and the burden becomes lighter. When we follow Jesus, he teaches us his gentleness and humility. These are surely all that we should desire.
Victoria Raw is parishioner of Te Whetu O Te Moana, Star of the Sea Marlborough, NZ and is active in lay ministry.