In many situations in life, even in political situations, there exists this paradox: strength bows down before weakness, pride bows down before humility. We may see this as the core of incarnation theology - our God and Lord, creator of heaven and earth, comes riding on a donkey (Zech 9:9-10).

Today's Gospel reading surprises us in a different way. No leader, while building up an enterprise, would invite his followers saying that they will have to "carry a yoke" but Jesus says that following him obliges one to carry one's cross. Strange but true, to follow Jesus we must carry whatever cross life and its circumstances lays upon our shoulders and so follow Jesus. Whatever Jesus asks us to do, he has already done for us and so he himself shows us how to bear the burden and enables us to bear it. His lessons are learnt experientially and not taught only verbally. So Jesus extends an invitation to us to "come and see".