But you cannot bear it now

8 MAY (Jn 16,12-15)

What a difference there is between Jesus and the Pharisees, the scribes and the priests of his time! These imposed on men’s shoulders a heavy, hard and unbearable yoke. On the contrary, the yoke of Jesus is sweet and light, pleasant to bear. The yoke is always hard when you replace the Word of God with that of men. The latter is always heavy.

Then Jesus spoke to the crowds and to his disciples, saying, “The scribes and the Pharisees have taken their seat on the chair of Moses. Therefore, do and observe all things whatsoever they tell you, but do not follow their example. For they preach but they do not practice. They tie up heavy burdens (hard to carry) and lay them on people’s shoulders, but they will not lift a finger to move them. All their works are performed to be seen. They widen their phylacteries and lengthen their tassels. They love places of honor at banquets, seats of honor in synagogues, greetings in marketplaces, and the salutation ‘Rabbi.’ (Mt 23,1-7).

At that time Jesus said in reply, “I give praise to you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to the childlike. Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him. “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for your selves. For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.” (Mt 11,25-30).

The yoke of Jesus is easy and his burden is light, because his is the Word of God, only God’s Word, the most pure Word of God. In Him there is no word of man. This truth about the sweetness of the Word of God had already been revealed by the Psalm.

The law of the LORD is perfect, restoring the soul; The testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. The precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; The judgments of the LORD are true; they are righteous altogether. They are more desirable than gold, yes, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb. Moreover, by them Your servant is warned; In keeping them there is great reward (Psalm 19 (18), 8-12).

O how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day. Your commandments make me wiser than my enemies, For they are ever mine. I have more insight than all my teachers, For Your testimonies are my meditation. I understand more than the aged, Because I have observed Your precepts. I have restrained my feet from every evil way, That I may keep Your word. I have not turned aside from Your ordinances, For You Yourself have taught me. How sweet are Your words to my taste! Yes, sweeter than honey to my mouth! From Your precepts I get understanding; Therefore I hate every false way.(Psalm 119 (118), 97-104).

Despite the Word of Jesus is sweet, refreshes the heart, He does not give it all at once. It is so great, high and deep, that the heart would be like drowning in it. He sends his Holy Spirit, and this along the course of history always adds the Word to the Word of Jesus leading the disciples to its fullness.

“I have much more to tell you, but you cannot bear it now. But when he comes, the Spirit of truth, he will guide you to all truth. He will not speak on his own, but he will speak what he hears, and will declare to you the things that are coming. He will glorify me, because he will take from what is mine and declare it to you. Everything that the Father has is mine; for this reason I told you that he will take from what is mine and declare it to you.

The way of Jesus is true for every one of his disciples. He, too, must not give the Word of Jesus all at once. He must use a holy, true and authentic gradualness. Every day he must add something. He might do this if he lets himself be led into all truth by the Holy Spirit that is upon him. If he is not in the Holy Spirit, he will quite soon transform the Word of God into the word of men, and then either he wants to give the whole Law and all the Prophets all at once, or he will forget the Law and the Prophets and will walk down a path that is without the Word and not the truth of Lord Jesus.

Virgin Mary, Mother of the Redemption, Angels and Saints fill us with the Holy Spirit.