Daily Reflection – 7/20/2023
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
In today’s scripture, we hear of 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. What a beautiful invitation from Jesus!
This passage is worth reading over and 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. One of the greatest daily burdens is that of our own sin. But whatever the case may be, 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.
Jesus also 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. Our concerns or worries may still be with us. However, if we bring them to Jesus, He will grace us with the strength we need to keep going and also to keep hoping.
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 all we face in life. That is an incredible act of love. To take on the weakness of human nature to make us strong.
My mind sometimes is stalled when I think of that. My God, your God experienced the joy and the pain of our human lives to make it easier for us to believe in his mercy, his love and his never-ending desire to make our earthly lives more tolerable. Wow! Wow! And Wow!
Today, ask yourself: what concerns, worries or anxieties are on my mind today? Then I invite you to sit quietly with Jesus for a few minutes. Just simply “be” with Him. You don’t need to say anything since Jesus already knows what you are thinking and feeling. Place your anxieties, fears or worries in His hands. 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.Simply spending time with Him will give you rest and it also lighten your burden. Trust Him! Jesus is waiting for you!
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 NoteBy 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.
Daily Note
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.
