Thursday of week 15 in Ordinary Time
Our Lady of Mount Carmel
Gospel: Matthew 11:28-30On the memorial of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, the words of Jesus take on a special tenderness: “Come to me, all you who labour and are overburdened, and I will give you rest… My yoke is easy and my burden light.” Christ never promises a life without crosses, but He promises that we will never carry them alone. His yoke is light because He bears it with us, giving us the grace we need each day. On this Marian feast, we also contemplate the loving presence of Mary, who accompanies every disciple on the journey of faith. As a mother walks beside her child, encouraging, comforting, and guiding each step, so Mary walks with the Church, always leading us to her Son. Her maternal presence does not replace Christ but helps us remain close to Him, especially when the road becomes difficult. At the foot of the Cross she remained faithful, and from there Jesus entrusted her to all His disciples as their Mother. The devotion to Our Lady of Mount Carmel reminds us that we are never abandoned in our pilgrimage. With Christ carrying the yoke alongside us and with Mary accompanying us through her maternal intercession, even our heaviest burdens become lighter because they are sustained by love. The Christian journey is therefore not one of lonely endurance but of trusting companionship with Jesus and His Mother, who gently lead us toward the peace that only God can give.
Don Giorgio