Readings:
1 John 1: 5 – 2: 2
Matthew 11: 25-30
Reflection:
“Come to me.” Jesus’ invitation is open, it is free, it is warm and it is for everyone. The door is wide open, all we have to do is to step in. That first step can be the hardest. Excuses, procrastination and hesitancy can get in the way. But Jesus just says “Come to me.” He wants us. He is not indifferent to our needs and our problems. He is not setting out rules. Instead, he is God who reaches out in profound love and gentleness.
We are living in very troubled and unsettled times. Every day we hear of new atrocities being committed in the name of so many unacceptable things. It is deeply disturbing. When the lives of innocent women, men and children are obliterated, when food and water are so limited that many of left with nothing and when vitriolic words get so much air time one can only feel a sense of desolation. Even if we are not personally enduring these horrors we are surely all sensing the pain being inflicted on so many by these things.
And Jesus is still inviting us to come to him. Unburdening our inner selves and placing it all in his hands does not mean resigning ourselves to fate. The realities of these problems are still there but now the invitation is to look at them and shoulder them with Jesus beside us.
He does not want us to shoulder things on our own. He does not want us to be dragged down. He wants to lighten the load. He wants to ease the pain. Am I willing to accept his help? Am I willing to be Jesus’ hands and feet on earth to help others to shoulder the yoke so as to bring his promised rest and true peace? A smile and a ‘good morning’ may be all it takes.
Victoria Raw is parishioner of Te Whetu O Te Moana, Star of the Sea Marlborough, NZ and is active in lay ministry.