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Wednesday of the SecondWeek of Advent
Isaiah 40:25-31
Psalm 103:1-2, 3-4, 8 & 10
MT 11:28-30
Summary
All of the readings today reflect on the power and glory of the Lord and the
grace of his son, Jesus. Each tells of how we are given strength and are blessed
by their love.
Reflection
This gospel from Matthew is one that speaks to me and fills my heart every time
I read it:
Jesus said to the crowds:
“Come to me, all you 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 yourselves.
For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.”
It is hope that fills my heart with this passage. The gift that Jesus gives us to be a
comfort when times are difficult and we are weary. That weariness can come
through illness, poverty, fear, etc or just the “burden” of everyday life, where
sometimes it is difficult to juggle everything and keep moving forward. When
that weariness creeps in on me, it is time for me to take a moment (or ten) to
focus, to pray, to ask for help and to give thanks for Jesus in helping me
through. It is in those acts that I find my rest in Jesus, when he takes that yoke
from me.
And it is in the passage “..for I am meek and humble of heart” that I also find
great comfort. It says to me that one does not have to strong and powerful to
find rest. That it is okay to be small and quiet. The comfort of Jesus – his easy
yoke and light burden – is available to all of us.
That we can find him in our own still, calming
breath as well as in the crashing cymbals of our
life.