Rest in Jesus

Good morning, happy Thursday,  and many blessings.

With todays’ Gospel (Luke 11: 25-30) we celebrate the feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. In the Gospel we hear the invitation of Jesus: "Learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart." The Gospel shows the tenderness with which Jesus welcomes the little ones. He wanted the poor to find peace and rest in him.

Do you sometimes find yourself weary – from struggles, pains, disappointments? Jesus’ invitation, 'Come to me' is always open, especially when you really need the peace, rest, protection, and God's love.

Sometimes life’s burdens can overwhelm us, and we live with uncertainty and the fear that we will be swallowed up in despair and lack of hope. Here in this passage of Scripture, Jesus offers us a lifeline, ‘Come to me …’ He says. Sounds simple, doesn’t it? And yet we find it difficult to believe that reaching out to Him can make a difference.

Jesus invites those who labor and are burdened. The phrase 'comfort zone' is used of the state where we feel life is under control and satisfactory. Jesus is inviting those who are not in the comfort zone, who feel oppressed by anxiety and uncertainty.

I reflect on the burdens I am carrying. I bring them to Jesus. What difference does it make when he takes my burdens on his shoulders? Do I find rest? I ask for the grace to be aware that I am never alone in my weariness, for he is there.

Following Jesus means we hear his invitation to come and see, listen to His teaching, act upon what we learn from Him. When we follow Jesus, we are stepping into a new life that leaves an old life behind. It will cost us some of our worldly ambitions, but it will give us so much more.

The yoke of Jesus is light, compared to the number of rules that the people of the First Testament had to follow. However, forgiving those people who may hate us is terribly difficult. Can I pray for the grace to do that?

My prayer for today; Jesus, I do not ask that you bring my life completely under control. To be mortal is to face uncomfortable realities. I beg you to be my uncomfortable comfort zone.

When we follow Jesus, we are stepping into a new life that leaves an old life behind. It will cost us some of our worldly ambitions, but it will give us so much more.

I close this reflection with a phrase from Saint Teresa: “O Jesus, it is true that I am not always faithful, but I never become discouraged, I cast myself into Your arms, and like a little dewdrop, I sink deeper and deeper into Your chalice, O divine Flower of the field, and there I find all I have lost and much more besides.”

Blessings

Fr. Luis+