Our Father and our burden lifter by Rev Fr Charles Shoyombo CDA

Some years ago, reading the award-winning epic novel "Things Fall Apart" by Chinua Achebe; I was petrified literally at the scene where Okonkwo insists on taking part in the execution of Ikemefuna despite the fact that the boy calls him "Father". That irony runs deep as no sane Father goes about killing or maiming his children. Naturally, when a child is in danger, he runs to the protective hands of his Father, but events and realities teach us the hard lessons that some children are developing adaptive mechanism from fathers who see child-support as a burden that nature has placed on them. 

Though children may be heady and difficult, the fathers don’t save and them by pushing them on the side-lines, they redeem them with good counsel and affection. Realistically, there are some burdens that the earthly Fathers can't bear but they can share with great concerns. Thus,  children, who have been failed by their biological Fathers, spiritual fathers or poster fathers, are called to a loving relationship with their heavenly Father because the biblical line that ‘no father gives his children scorpions or snakes when they ask for fish’ is no scam but a launchpad to the fatherhood of God who gives us the Holy Spirit when we ask him. 

Dear friends, the Gospel reading today reminds us that even if our earthly fathers fail us; the heavenly Father can't fail us. The assurance is embedded in the invitation, "come to me all you who labour and overburdened, and I will give you rest."  His words are indicative of the readiness of the Lord to help his children carry their burdens and be their shoulder when they are losing the sweet taste of life. In this gospel, the children represent powerlessness and dependence but motivated by the supportive hands of the father and the power of revelation. 

Is it not disheartening and pathological to find children being detached from their fathers because they are terrified by their presence?  Is it not funny for some fathers to think it is healthy to be distant from home affairs, absent in the lives of their children while pushing the responsibilities: "Go and meet your mummy". It is not rocket science for Fathers who pass the buck to know that they would lack trust, love and bond of their kids when they are found wanting in primary responsibilities. Hence, the liturgy speaks to the fatherly role to their children especially those crushed by the heavyweight of the medical, emotional, psychological and spiritual burden. No one should be lost!

While the knees of the oppressors were placed on the necks of children of Isreal as a colonised nation, Prophet Zechariah looked out for them and announced the coming of the ''messiah'' who is humble and poor, a word that describes Jesus who came to set people free from different forms of bondage and burden. That messianic mission of Christ was handed over to His apostles and everyone in fatherly positions to ease the burdens of others and be wary of the heavy loads cast on their subordinates. Unfortunately, the pharisaic mentality of heaping burden on the people without a finger to help (Mt 23:4) was not limited to the biblical times, its ever present and almost a ''new normal'' in the world.

In 2015, when President Buhari was appointed as the head of our fatherland, most people were thrown into the illusion that the "comforter" has come and the media branded him the ''new sheriff in town" with his evocative mantra: I belong to nobody, I belong to everyone. Five years, down the line, whether the statement is either delusional or real, only God can judge if the president is a "father" of the nation or some sections. How true is  the saying: when a man stands before the mirror, he sees only himself, but if he looks at the eyes of his children, he will see his ''real'' face. Until we have a collective reflection and response to the yoke and burden of leadership, governance in Nigeria, the people shall remain abused and traumatised in the face of draconian Lords and Laws.Today, Jesus is rebuking those who misunderstand the law, those who bend it’s interpretation to their advantage to remember God's mercy when they weigh people down with heavy labour and impossible expectations; the messiah takes off the yoke as Jesus has shown is not by word alone but by example. 

The keyword in Jesus' prayer is "learn", and the Lord asks us to cooperate in being taught by him. By reflective learning, our minds are made holy to realise that the "little" ones, the insignificant, the subordinates, workers, students, those we trample upon are part of the revelations of God who is able to put down the mighty from their seats and exalt the humble and the lowly. 

The Lord also makes it clear that without humility and gentleness of heart, the wise and the learned would be bereft of the gains of the gospel and the hidden treasure of the soul. While it is difficult to open a closed heart; it can be modified by calling on Our Father in prayer to set our hearts aright. Thus, we are called to reflect Christ as spiritual beings seeking spiritual benefits and not the unspiritual drives, personal glories and evil agenda which are antithetical to the gospel. 

The key to the kingdom opens us to the Spirit of God lest we become debtors to the flesh. St Paul admonishes us in the second reading, we should not be led and governed by the flesh but opened to the promptings of the Spirit. Deluded arrogance, unrelenting pride and empty wisdom are not part of the fruits of the Holy Spirit and those who desire to enjoy rest, peace and joy that Jesus offers have to be childlike, humble to receive. 

Dear friends in Christ, today, let us reactivate our humility plans by putting on the "yoke" of Christ because his yoke is easy, and the burden is light. The overriding message is humility, when we realise that our high station does not result in pride and pomposity but responsibility replete with accountability, then we can change our focus and intentionality. Let us continue to hope in God who never abandons, not even his flakiest children but shows them his saving and consoling help. Let us pray for our earthly fathers that God will give them the grace and divine intervention to carry the heavy load of fatherhood and leadership. As children of God, we should feel free to go to our Father in Heaven and address Him as Jesus shows us the great pattern on how to thank Him for His infinite love and mercy. May your heavenly father bless and keep you. Happy Sunday.