The Leave-taking of the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross; Holy Apostle Codratus of Magnesia (249-52)
Galatians 6:2-10; Mark 7:14-24
Read Galatians 6:2-10
Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory forever!
“Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.”
As I was reflecting on this first line from todays epistle reading, I thought about an occasion in the past year where I shared my particular burdens with a close and trusted friend. After sharing my particular burdens, this friend responded with understanding and compassion. He had been through a similar situation and reassured me that this particular burden would pass in time.
St. Paul calls us today to bear one another’s burdens. He calls us to listen to the struggles of others and co-suffer with them. When we carry the burdens of others by our compassionate understanding of their situation, they may feel the way I described above. However important this is, carrying the burdens of others does more than reassure or comfort.
St. Paul tells us that by bearing the burdens of other, we fulfill the law of Christ. What is the law of Christ? In the words of St. Augustine, “The law of Christ means the law of love. The one who loves his neighbour fulfills the law.” We bear one another’s burdens because we love our brothers and sisters. And in bearing their burdens, we show them, in a real and tangible way, our love for them.