December 13/Second Wednesday of Advent
(Memorial of St. Lucy, Virgin and Martyr)
“Come to me, all you that are weary and are burdened, and I will give you rest.” ~ Matt 11.28
A dear friend has a quotation taped inside one of her kitchen cabinets that I try to remember whenever I am tempted to make a snap judgment of someone, friend or stranger. “Be kind to everyone you meet today; you never know what battles they are fighting.” Whether we wear our hearts on our sleeves or keep them hidden away, all of us carry around burdens. A childhood shame, a family secret, an estranged friendship, a challenging child, debilitating disease, financial worries — these are the sorts of spiritual and physical cargo that can weigh us down (and indeed, the Greek verb translated as “burdened” is related to the noun for a ship’s cargo or lading). While we may cope well enough most of the time, at certain moments — and the holidays are prime suspects — it all begins to feel too much to bear. We may sink under the weight of grief or sadness, or we may flounder anxiously, unable to settle our souls. At such times, we can hang onto the comforting words of Jesus: “Come unto me.” He invites us to surrender our heavy burdens into his hands, and ourselves into his loving arms. And if we accept this call, he promises us respite. Here, the Greek is again instructive. The word anapausis, or “rest,” is redolent with biblical associations. This is holy rest: the cessation of activity that characterizes the Sabbath, the pause that refreshes us beside the “still waters” of the 23rd Psalm (literally translated, “the waters of anapausis”). To enter into this rest, we need only to let go of the things we carry.
Loving Lord, Relieve me this day of the burdens and sorrows that weigh down my soul, and give me the comfort of resting in you. Amen.
To hear Manchester Cathedral Choir sing “I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say,” click here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VRPRkFO-8P0
For today’s readings, click here: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/121323.cfm
