Finding Rest in Him

Wednesday Gospel Refection: Memorial of Saint Ambrose, Bishop and Doctor of the Church

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

In our Gospel reading today, we receive a beautiful invitation from Christ. An offering to fall in love with his sacred heart and lay our burdens at his feet. One of the tremendous daily burdens is that of our sin.  But whatever the case, 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.  A call to go to him without hesitation and fear.  

God created us to live with a healthy rhythm of life. Many of us cannot find the time to rest with him. We live with a harmful drive to achieve. Jesus offers us such a gift by saying that he has come to give us rest. This rest is found in a grace that does not demand that we jump through all the hoops or get everything right.

During this second week of advent, let us be reminded that the Son of God took on our human nature. 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. He lived the hardships out of love for us so that He could help us endure, joyfully, all we face in life.

Let us today reflect upon the gentle invitation from Christ. Let us allow him to enter into our hearts and help us carry our burdens. He says, “my yoke is easy, and my burden light," so let us take him at his word. The cross you bear may not go away, but it will be transformed and light in His grace.

Oh, Jesus, I surrender myself to you; take care of everything. (The Surrender Novena prayer)

Fun Saint Feast Fact: Ambrose was a bishop and one of the four original doctors of the Church. He was the one that baptized and converted Saint Augustine of Hippo.