Reflections On Him

Sacred Scripture
Jesus said to the crowds: “Come to me, all you who 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.” (Matthew 11:28-30

Reflection
A passage from scripture repeated by millions through the centuries. It is simple but profound. Its promise is eternal. Its words have lifted men and women throughout the ages.
It's an incredible invitation from Jesus. He is calling us to Him. Calling us not to just relieve us of our problems, our sicknesses — but encouraging us to lean on Him.
This passage is worth reading over so that it can easily be reflected upon during those moments when we feel overwhelmed and burdened. It could be we are burdened by some tragedy in life, or it could be we are burdened by the small and monotonous aspects of life. Or we are dealing with a feeling of unease or trepidation which won't leave us. Or we find that the toxic nature of events around us is wearing us down.
But whatever the case, Jesus wants us to hear and believe these words. "Come to me…" He says. "Come to me no matter what is going on in your life. Come to me without hesitation and without fear."
This beautiful invitation from Jesus should sustain us for a myriad of reasons.
It begins with its simplicity. God doesn't offer a complicated formula for helping us carry our burdens. He offers only one — "Come to me . . . and I will give you rest."
"Come to me," he says, "cast your anxieties on me for I care for you" (1 Peter 5:7). "Trust in me with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding" (Proverbs 3:5), he says, "and you will find rest for your souls."
Jesus then adds the ultimate promise. He promises us that His "yoke is easy" and His "burden is light." What does that mean? Does it mean that coming to Jesus will remove all hardship from our lives? No, not really. What it means is that coming to Jesus will enable us to endure and walk through any hardship we encounter in life. We will never walk alone because we know that He is there. He strengthens us. He calms us. He gives us His peace when we can't find any.
God the Son came and took on our human nature and all that goes along with being human. And though He never sinned, He allowed Himself to experience the effects of sin and the burden it imposes. So as God, He can look us in the eye and tell us that He understands our hardships because He lived them. He lived them out of love for us so that He could help us endure, joyfully, all we face in life.
What is happening here is a yoke-exchange. On the cross, Jesus takes our inconceivably and unbearably heavy yoke of sin's condemnation and penalty and offers us in exchange the easy yoke and light burden of simply trusting Him. He does all the work and gives us all the rest. And His work not only fully addresses our sin problem, but also provides the supply of every other need we will ever have (Philippians 4:19). All we are required to do is trust Him.
By going to Jesus, we find rest, we find comfort, we find healing, we find peace. For Jesus is gentle and humble of heart. We need to entrust all our human conditions, our problems, weaknesses, and sicknesses to Jesus.
Today, promise yourself that you will forever hold on to this gentle and glorious invitation from Jesus. Let Him enter into whatever it is that burdens you. Let Him carry the yoke that you carry and give you, instead, the gentle yoke He has prepared for you. The cross you bear may not go away — but it will be transformed and made light in His grace and His presence.

Prayer of The Day
"Lord, I surrender my life and all that I am to You. I accept Your invitation to come to You. Thank You for Your unfailing compassion and concern for me. Jesus, I trust in You."

Daily Note
Because our burdens are not simple, they are not relieved by simplistic platitudes ("Cheer up! Things are bound to turn around!"). But a simple promise can relieve a complex burden — provided we believe that the power behind the promise is complex and strong enough to relieve our heaviness.
And into our weariness steps the most complex power in existence, speaking a promise as simple, hopeful, and refreshing as we could possibly want.

Travelling Light, Trusting Deeply

Sacred Scripture
Jesus said to his Apostles: “As you go, make this proclamation: ‘The Kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, drive out demons. Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give. Do not take gold or silver or copper for your belts; no sack for the journey, or a second tunic, or sandals, or walking stick. The laborer deserves his keep. Whatever town or village you enter, look for a worthy person in it, and stay there until you leave. As you enter a house, wish it peace. If the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it; if not, let your peace return to you. Whoever will not receive you or listen to your words, go outside that house or town and shake the dust from your feet. Amen, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of S***m and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town.” (Matthew 10:7-15)

Reflection
Our life is a journey from God to God. How we travel that journey are the indices of the final destination.
As Jesus prepared His disciples for their journey, He taught them lessons that matter just as much for us today.
He told them to travel light so their focus would be on the work of God. He wanted them to understand that poverty of resources can sometimes allow the Lord to work more powerfully.
So too with us.
Where is our focus in this life? Are we thinking of what we should be doing to further His kingdom on earth? Or are we wrapped up in the materiality around us, our titles, our politics, or our own self aggrandizement? All of those mean we are not as Christ centered as we are called to be.
Jesus was also teaching them not to be over reliant on their own human resources, but to rely on the Lord to provide for them. The “value” of self reliance is even stronger today than it was in the communal culture of Jesus. We have been taught to leave nothing to chance. We must plan for every eventuality.
But what about our reliance on Christ? Is it truly there?
How often do we step out in faith? How often do we turn to Him and simply say: “My trust is in my God.”
And having done that, trust that He will lead us, nudge us, remind us that He lived for you and me. He wants you and me to step out in faith and know what it is not to falter because He holds us in the palm of His hands. Believe that, trust that, and then live your life based on that.
I understand that our human nature — perhaps even the evil one — will do all to prevent that. But until we rest in His love, we can’t know the fullness of His love for us.
Looking around us today, there is much to be concerned with. For some, it is overwhelming. For some, frightening. And sadly, for some, unbearable.
But it is none of those if we trust in Him. How can we ever be afraid when we accept and live in His love?
Jesus is the fullest revelation possible in a human life of God’s tender love. Yet He experienced the turning away of people from this love, their refusal to respond to it in any meaningful way.
When Jesus sends out His apostles, He warns them to expect the same. They are to proclaim the good news that the reign of God’s life giving love is present, but they will encounter those who will not welcome them.
Jesus insists that this negative response is not to deter them from their mission of proclaiming God’s loving presence by what they say and do.
So too with us.
But how can His love — manifested in the way we live out His command — ever be anything but a source of hope, compassion, and selflessness for each of us?

Prayer of The Day
“Lord, may the joy and truth of the gospel transform my life that I may witness it to those around me. Grant that I may spread your truth and your light wherever I go.”
Daily Note

The instruction of Jesus for the apostles is His marching order for us as well: Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, drive out demons.
In other words, Jesus is telling us to make a difference in the lives of others — most especially the poor. Let us not be selfish; let us be sensitive to their needs, for in doing so we bring ourselves closer to the Lord.