Do we truly trust Jesus?

 
Reading: Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest Matthew 11:28.
 
Good morning, happy Friday, and many blessings my dear family.
 
In today’s Gospel (Matthew 11:25-30) Jesus invites all who are weary and burdened to come to Him. He promises us that if we come to Him, He will give us rest, and the rest He gives will renew and restore us.
 
What in your life wearies you? What wears you down or exhausts you? From what (and whom) do you need “rest?”  It might be worry about your loved ones, health, or financial concerns.  Perhaps you feel overwhelmed by your responsibilities or perhaps you feel alone.
 
I assume that all of us are weary to some degree. What do we do at these times? How do we cope with the weariness? Do we carry our burdens alone or do we share them with our family or friends? Do we take our burdens, anxiety, and weariness to Jesus and ask Him for the grace and rest that we need?
 
Wouldn’t it be wonderful if by simply taking our worries and weariness to Jesus that magically everything in our lives would become right again? However, we know from experience that typically this does not happen. Even when have taken our concerns or worries to Jesus, we may still be worried and anxious.
 
Jesus’ invitation is to follow Him but in a way that is freeing and that brings much joy, even when life brings its own burdens. What burdens am I carrying at the moment? Can I hand them over to Jesus in this time of prayer? When I am grateful, I have very little room left for grumbling or grousing! What is it like to feel like an ‘infant’ in my relationship with Jesus or the Abba? Recalling times when I was ‘weary and carrying heavy burdens’ did I find rest for my soul? In what way was my burden lightened? Do I know the heart of Jesus as being kind and full of compassion?
 
Today, ask yourself: What concerns, worries or anxieties are on my mind and in my heart? 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. If you quietly sit with Jesus, you may begin to feel peaceful and calm. Somehow quietly being with Jesus may bring us a true sense of rest and it also may lighten our burden. Trust Jesus! He is waiting for us!
 
If we do bring our struggles to Jesus, He will grace us with the strength we need to continue. Perhaps the question for us is:  Do we truly trust Jesus?
 
Blessings,
 
Fr. Luis+