28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Reflection
Have you ever been so tired and you did not know when or where you might rest? I think of the early days of parenthood, when perhaps a kid was up all night, either sick or with a screwed up sleep schedule. As a young mom, on one such afternoon, I was so tired that I had trouble driving ten minutes home from the store. With a young, sleepy toddler on my hip, I came into the house and collapsed in exhaustion just moments later. But after twenty minutes, I awoke with a startle: Where was my son? This was only to find that even in my sleepiness, I had at least managed to get him into his crib, before falling fast asleep.
Of course there is another kind of tiredness, the kind that makes us weary of the day’s events, or weary with worry for ourselves or someone we love. This type of weariness is much more than physical. It is the type of burden that perhaps keeps us up at night thinking, crying, or in the least, fretting over someone’s circumstance. This is the weariness that Christ is speaking about.
Our Lord says, “Come to me…and I will give you rest…. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me.” Oh, how easy it is to forget that there is One who will stay with us when we are so burdened! Our Lord tells us to put on His “yoke,” or His ways in the world.
A yoke is also a wooden and metal harness used to sling working animals together, as they complete their chores in tandem. What Jesus is saying is to commit to His ways in the world and He will walk with us. Sure we can hold onto our weary ways alone, but we can also share these with the One who gives us the peace that surpasses all understanding.
As children of God, we can rest because our salvation through Christ makes our way in the world lighter. Of course, God doesn’t promise that the troubles that we encounter will be over, but only that the burdens we bear will be lighter because of the One who can hold it all. So don’t just stay weary with worry; let Our Lord share the load.
by Barbara Carlson
For Pondering & Prayer
What burdens do you need to share with Our Lord today?
Prayer:
Oh My Lord, thank you for your presence with me. I know I have burdens that sometimes feel too big to bear. But I can find rest in you, Oh Lord. In you alone, there is the peace which surpasses all understanding. Amen.
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