on this gospel reading, St Augustine sums it all up with these words (sermon XX): "For love makes all the hardest and most distressing things, altogether easy, and almost nothing."

I had the most moving encounter at St Vincent's hospital this week. A colleague of mine in a country parish, asked me to visit a parishioner of his, who had suffered a massive stroke. After the visit, I was leaving the hospital and smiled at an elderly Aboriginal woman in a dressing gown who was taking a walk. She responded with the most beautiful toothless grin. "Good evening Father," she said, "I give thanks to God every night and day." I was tired, it was the end of the day, but I fumbled a rather benign response: "that's agood way to be."

Then she gave me the greatest gift, she told me a story that almost brought me to tears. Her son, aged 18, had committed suicide. She was devastated, as you can imagine, but then a few months later she was walking past her son's empty room, and it was inexplicably filled with a heavenly light. "What a beautiful story" I said. "It's true," she replied, "it really happened. My husband saw it too. I believe in heaven now, and I give thanks to God every night and day. My son is at peace." Then she added, "Will you tell people about it?" I promised that I would.

Our Lord undoubtedly had placed his yoke on her shoulders. And I imagine he has placed the yoke of