Get On My Back

“All you who are weary and find life burdensome” is a figure of speech drawn from the laboring people of Jesus’ time-hard-working slaves and farmers who were bent low for long hours at a time by the heavy burdens carried on their backs. It comes to us, in the Gospel, as a symbol of the heavy burdens we are asked to carry in this life-physical, emotional, spiritual. “Come to Me, all you who are weary . . .I will refresh you.” This is a standing invitation, Jesus extends to all. There are no exclusions. None! Black or White; Red or Yellow; rich or poor or middle-class; native or immigrant or refugee; high-and-mighty or low-and-downtrodden; famous or infamous-Jesus’ call goes out to all because all are destined to share in life’s burdens.

Not one single burden of one single person was bypassed by Jesus on the Cross. Everyone with a cancer or arthritis or migraine headaches or a withered limb was included. Everyone who dreads…