To suffer for Christ means to take up His yoke

May the Lord give you peace and health in the Holy Spirit.  It is on 20th July 2023. 

May the Lord give you peace and health in the Holy Spirit.  It is on 20th July 2023.  We reflect on Exodus 3:13-20 and Matthew 11:28-30.

Does God have a Name?

We all are interested to know what God’s name is.  There are so many names in the scripture for God, but one name resonates with the nature of God and who God is to us.  I AM WHO I AM.  We have called God with a lot of names according to our personal or community experience.  But God wishes to be called in one name: I AM WHO I AM.  “This is my name forever, and thus I am to be remembered throughout all generations.” (Ex.3:10). I exist as I AM.  This is not really a name but a quality of God that is personal, intimate, and related to God.  I AM WHO I AM echoes the friendship and intimacy of God with us from time immemorial.  God is with us always, present in every turn and turf of life, God who wipes our tears and bears our sufferings and emotional burdens.

We find it difficult to find answers to the question of who I am when we struggle to believe and accept who God is.

But Jesus gave meaning to God’s quality by revealing Himself, “I am the living bread, I am the Light of the world, I am the light of life, I am the gate, I am the good shepherd, I am the resurrection, I am the way, the truth and the life, and I am the vine, and you are the branches.”

“All you who labour and are overburdened, and I will give you rest”. If we feel the yoke of the law, the yoke of the Pharisees, the yoke of work, and family, Jesus invites us to come to Him and take His yoke.

“My yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Mt. 11:30). Whatever our tiredness and exhaustion, Jesus wishes to offer rest to us all.  We need to come to Him, learn from Him, and spend quality time with Him.  What is the yoke of Jesus?  It could be the narrow door, and Jesus wishes to share the yoke with us.  Loving God and Jesus is an experience not merely an expression.  Jesus carried our burdens for us all.  Now it is our turn to shoulder His yoke by being merciful and loving to those in need.  To suffer for Christ means to take up His yoke.

May we follow the commandments of love that Jesus offers us?  We no longer feel it as a burden or obligation when we love.  Have a lovely day.  God bless you.

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