[Greek] κοπιάω (kopiaō), [Latin] laborare, [Latin] fatigare, [German] anstrengen, [French] travailler: to work hard, to be weary, to toil, to tire, to be tired, to weary; 25 scriptures

Carrying a burden can also be likened to carrying a cross. Circumstances often may define us and our burdens.

Background information:

Greek Hellenism: This term means to grow weary, to make a great exertion (mental or physical), to suffer, to strike, and to work (toil).

Aristophanes’ Thesmophoriazusae 795: “If we fall asleep at friends’ homes from the fatigue of playing and sporting, each you (wives) come prowling around the bed to contemplate the features of this pest (husband).

Aristophanes’ Birds 735: “That you will be weary and cloyed with enjoyment.”

Euripides’ Phoenissae 852: “But first collect your strength and regain your breath, shaking off the fatigue from your journey.”

Euripides’ The Trojan Woman 794: “For you I strike upon my head and beat my breast, my only gift.”

The Wisdom of Ben Sira (Ecclesiasticus):

1. This book follows Wisdom in the Old Testament.
2. Sirach comes from the Greek form of the author’s name. Ben Sira, a Hellenistic scribe, sage, and allegorist, was a wise and experienced observer of life.
3. This book Liber Ecclesiasticus (Church Book) addressed wisdom tradition, the law, the priesthood, divine worship, the individual, and the family.
4. This book, written in the early 2^nd century B.C., provided maxims in integrating faith and family issues in various subject matters.
5. The Wisdom of Ben Sira has been recognized by the Catholic Church as inspired and canonized.
6. The notion of taking a yoke upon one’s neck and seeking rest comes from Sir.51:23-30.

Sir.51:23: “Come aside to me, you untutored, and take up lodging in the house of instruction.”

What is this house of instruction? This is essentially a metaphor for Ben Sira’s teaching.

Who are those who come this house (school) of instruction? The naïve, untutored, and foolish people come here.

Sir.51:24: “How long will you deprive yourself of wisdom’s food, and how long endure such bitter thirst?”

What are these students seeking? Wisdom (praise of the Lord).

Sir.51:25: “I open my mouth and speak of her: gain wisdom for yourselves at no cost.”

Why is wisdom personified as female? Finding wisdom was like finding a wife. Like a wife, wisdom provides wealth, blessings, and righteousness. It is also interesting to note that the Hebrew term for wisdom is a feminine noun.

Sir.51:26: “Take her yoke upon your neck; that your mind may receive her teaching. For she is close to those who seek her, and the one who is in earnest finds her.”

What is a yoke? A yoke is a harness used by oxen and other animals to ease the work of hauling a load. A yoke also means a designation of servitude and carrying a burden of a task or mission.

Sir.51:27: “See for yourselves! I have labored only a little, but have found much.”

What does “acquire a little instruction and you will win silver and gold though her” mean? With a little hard work, one may attain great blessings.

New Testament: This term means to work (labor), to grow weary, and to be discouraged.

Scripture:

Mt.6:28: “Why are you anxious about clothes? Learn from the way the wild flowers grow. They do not work or spin.” (Jesus does not deny the reality of human needs. But we must not become slaves to these worries. But in reality, this is often easier said than done.)

Jn.4:38: “I have sent you to reap what you have not worked for; others have done the work, and you are sharing the fruits of their work.” (The sower is Christ. The reapers are those who will share in the benefits of the sower. These reapers are called to finish the work that had begun.)

Gal.4:11: “[Paul]: I am afraid on your account that perhaps I have labored for you in vain.”

When you do not know God (Gal.4:8-11):

1. The heathen (pagan) gods are devils. Focusing on these gods becomes a form of idolatry.
2. Paul states that the Galatians are in a state of gross and galling servitude (slavery) to the gods.
3. These chains of idolatry are found throughout the world.
4. This slavery is a burdensome yoke. This is in contrast to the freedom of the gospel.
5. The Galatians, once free, are turning back to these idols.
6. Paul questions whether the Galatians accepted Christianity in the first place.

Eph.4:28: “The thief must no longer steal, but rather labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with one in need.”

1. Paul states that one must put away falsehood and speak the truth.
2. Be angry and do not sin. One must not hold onto anger.
3. Do not leave room for the devil. One must not be subject to the influences of the devil.
4. This thievery pertains to seeking gain for oneself, idleness, selfishness, dishonesty, vice, and lying.
5. Instead, one must make efforts to support and comfort others.)

1Tim.4:10: “For this we toil and struggle, because we have set our hope on the living God, who is the savior of all, especially of those who believe.” (Christians [and others], laboring in the work of God [or in life in general], may have to experience PERSERVERANCE, TOIL, SUFFERING, PERSECUTION, AND MARTYRDOM. The Christian is likened to an disciplined athlete who must be ready and prepared to run the Christian race of life.)

1Tim. 5:17: “Presbyters who preside well deserve double honor, especially those who toil in preaching and teaching. For the scripture says, ‘You shall not muzzle and ox when it is threshing, and a worker deserves his pay’.” (The presbyters have the responsibility for preaching and teaching. Presbyters must be praised for their faithful efforts. Presbyters must be supported when they are falsely accused of wrongdoing (or sinful behavior). Early presbyters were both rightfully and unrightfully accused of sinful behavior. Sinful presbyters must also be held to account for their behavior. Like oxen [who eat grain], presbyters must be allowed to toil in preaching and teaching.)

Mt.11:28: “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Jesus tells us to take His yoke and learn from Him, for He is meek and humble of heart. You will find rest for yourselves. Jesus’ yoke is easy and His burden is light.)

[Greek] κόπος (kopos):work, trouble, toil, difficulties, labor, 19 scriptures

1Cor.15:58: “Therefore, by beloved brothers, be firm, steadfast, always fully devoted to the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.” (Paul reminds us to be steadfast, even when encountering temptations, dangers, enemies, and false teachers. Followers of Christ must not strive for wages, but for eternal life.)

1Cor.3:8: “The one who plants and the one who waters are equal, each will receive wages in proportion to his labor.” 

Roles of God’s ministers:

1. We are God’s workers. The Church is God’s field and building,
2. Each one must be careful how he builds upon the Church’s foundation.
3. The work of each efforts to build upon this foundation will come to light.
4. Each one’s work will be revealed with fire, testing the quality of each one’s work.
5. If the work stands and remains, that person will receive a wage (reward).
6. But if someone’s work is burned up, that one will suffer loss. This person will be saved but only as through fire.

Etymology:

1. The Latin verb deficere consists of the preposition (de-), meaning not, and the verb facere, meaning to make.
2. The Latin deficere can mean to withdraw, to fail, to fall short, to let down, to be weary, and to faint.
3. The Latin defectus (defect) is the past participle of deficere.
4. Essentially, this inability to produce, make, or work can make one weary, ineffective, or deficient.

Conclusion:

Labor, labored, fatigue, fatigued, cope, laboratories, deficient, deficit

Greek Hellenism: this term pertains to making a physical or mental exertion, suffering from a medical condition, being ‘wearied’ by enjoyment, (which is a puzzling notion). Perhaps being cloyed means more like sickened from eating too much candy.

Old Testament: toil in the present time is contrasted to the hope of salvation. Sirach offers a yoke of wisdom for the ignorant (untutored). With a little instruction, they gain wisdom.

Jesus draws upon Old Testament Wisdom imagery in talking about a yoke. Jesus offers a light yoke in providing refreshment to those who are weary. In contrast, the scribes and Pharisees impose heavy burdens on others.

Update: The families of these living and deceased hostages and families of victims from shootings are now carrying a GREAT BURDEN. We all need to extend our thoughts and prayers to them.

Being anxious: Jesus offers us great advice about worrying. But let’s be real. It is quite often “easier said than done” in following this advice. Many of us (including me!) need to work on our trust in God.

Sirach provides a great perspective and foundation in understanding of a yoke, instruction, and wisdom.

The human traditions coming out of Vatican II (and Synodality) have been very detrimental to the faith: repressing the TLM, creating the NOM, removing altar rails, commonplace “extra-ordinary” eucharistic ministers, and receiving the Eucharist in the hand ===> decreased belief in the Real Presence.

In response to the Minneapolis shooting, too many clergy are predictably focusing on “gun violence” but not on the underlying issues of mental illness, evil, and the consequences of body transitioning.

Unfortunately, there are too many clergy who predictably focus on inclusion (lived experiences) but not on Church teaching teachings against homosexuality. This is synodality becoming an IDOL! This is also a failure in calling out sin.

The Vatican’s and Synodality’s poor catechesis (instruction) ==> many Catholics leaving the Church.

The German synodal Church is “renewing” and “reforming” itself into decline and heresy.

Modernism and Synodalism: ==> subjective and lived experiential religious experiences, aversion to Tradition, doctrinal confusion and ambiguity.

Practical atheism: ==> paying lip service to God and Church teachings against homosexuality, and de-stigmatizing and normalizing homosexuality.

Vatican II’s efforts to “bring in fresh air into the Church” so that the “Church can get with the times”: ==> a spiritual and pastoral disaster for the Church.

The “smoke of Satan” entering the Church: ==> doctrinal and moral confusion and ambiguity, loss of vocations, lack of belief in the Real Presence, decreased Church attendance, tolerance and inclusion toward sin, error and heresy, LGBTQ “outreach (lax attitudes), and “pushing the doctrinal envelope” toward heresy.

Vatican II and Synodality’s efforts to MAKE A BETTER WORLD and to SEEK FAVOR WITH THE WORLD: ==> becoming more entrenched in politics, immigration, illegal immigration, social justice, environmental causes, and worldliness.

Poor efforts to build the Church: MODERNISM/SYNODALISM, DOCTRINAL AND MORAL AMBIGUITY, decreased belief in the Real Presence, SPARSE MASS ATTENDANCE (Novus Order Mass), loss of vocations, scandal, TOLERANCE TO SINFUL BEHAVIOR. ==> harsh judgment by God

Good efforts to build the Church: TRADITION, DOCTRINAL AND MORAL CLARITY, A GROWING CHURCH (Traditional Latin Mass), CLEARLY STATING CHURCH TEACHINGS ==> job well done

It is very important to remember that God will NOT WASTE our pains, sufferings, and burdens.

“For whenever anyone who bears the pain of unjust suffering because of the consciousness of God, that is a grace.” 1Pet.2:19

“This labor of our is BRIEF, but the reward is eternal.” St. Claire of Assisi

“The test of sincerity of one’s prayer is the willingness to labor on its behalf.” St. John Chrysostom

“Let us trust in Him who has placed this burden upon us. What we ourselves cannot bear let us bear with the help of Christ. For He is all-powerful, and He tells us: ‘My yoke is easy, and my burden light.”

He who labors as he prays lifts his heart to God with his hands.” Benedict of Nursia

10 Reasons to Believe in a God Who Allows Suffering (Burdens)

1. Suffering comes with the freedom to choose.
2. Pain can warn us of danger.
3. Suffering reveals what is in our hearts—

It has a way of revealing what is in our own hearts. Capacities for love, mercy, anger and pride can lie dormant until awakened by circumstances. Strength and weakness of heart is found not when everything is going our way by when suffering and trials test our character. The human heart is revealed and developed by enduring the pressure and heat of time and circumstance. Strength of character is shown not when all is well with our world but in the presence of human pain and suffering.

4. Suffering takes us to the edge of eternity—

If death is the end of everything, then a life filled with suffering isn’t fair. But if the end of this life brings us to the threshold of eternity, the most fortunate people in the universe are those who discover, through suffering, that this life is not all we have to live for. Those who find themselves and their eternal God through suffering have not wasted their pain. They have let their poverty, grief, and hunger drive them to the Lord of eternity. They are the ones who will discover to their own never-ending joy when Jesus said, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

5. Pain looses our grip on this life—

In time, our work and our opinions are sought less and less. Our bodies become increasingly worse for the wear. Problems loom larger and larger while options narrow. Each new pain makes this world less inviting and the next life more appealing. In its own way, pain paves the way for a graceful departure.

6. Suffering gives us an opportunity to trust God.
7. God suffers with us in our suffering.
8. God’s comfort is greater than our suffering.
9. In times of crisis, we find one another—

Natural disasters and times of crises have a way of bring us together. Suddenly we remember our own mortality and that people are more important than things. Each time we discover God’s comfort in our own suffering, our capacity to help others is increased.

10. God can turn suffering around for our good.

 I hope this post works out for you. Hope you had a Happy Labor Day!