The scriptures for Mass today are simple, beautiful and refreshing just to read. The gospel reading today has to do with being weary. That’s something all of us can relate to. Sometimes life can seem like a treadmill that you just can’t get off of, with all our recurring daily demands, responsibilities and obligations that we must contend with. Do you ever wish you could just stop the whirlwind of activity for a while and step away from it?
Sometimes people back themselves into a corner of never ending stress and chronic fatigue, just trying to keep up with a job. Sometimes it is absolutely necessary to take care of yourself and your family, but sometimes it is also because of the materialist lifestyle that many people in our modern society try to attain. There is a way out though, that can apply to all of us:
Jesus said in today’s gospel:
“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.”
In this verse from today’s gospel, did you notice the words “learn from me”? That’s an important thing to consider right there – for a way out, or a way to handle the unrelenting stress and fatigue in our lives better. People can feel trapped in a job or lifestyle that is draining their energy and joy in living. But, Jesus offers us a way out, or at least a way to handle our lives better. We can learn what to do about our stress and fatigue by looking at Jesus’s own life.
For one thing, Jesus needed very few material things. His needs were simple. Jesus didn’t even have a home. We need a home for shelter and to take care of our daily needs, but that’s about it. It doesn’t have to be a mansion, or decorated with the latest style furnishings. People often get trapped into a high house payment that causes them to work too many hours trying to pay for it. A small, modest home actually offers more freedom, because you don’t have to work as hard to pay for it. A lower stress lifestyle is also worth a lot. With some thought and patience, there is probably a solution to living simpler than what we do.
Jesus was rich though, in his relationship with God and with other people in his life. This is where his treasure is found, and where ours should be as well. It is hard to let go of the focus on material possessions and allow yourself to be seen as not as successful as others, but it is worth it if you put the focus on your faith and the people in your life instead of your money and possessions. When you are on your deathbed, no one will care what kind of home, furnishings, car, or bank account you have. Your “wealth” will be found in your faith and those gathered around your bedside.
If a change in your job or a simpler standard of living really isn’t possible, then the second part of this equation is even more significant. Jesus frequently took time away from whatever he was involved in at the moment, to go off by himself and pray. This is extremely important. The busier and more stressful our lives are, the more we need time out, and time away for prayer. Brief moments on your lunch break. A half hour sitting in an empty church. A weekly hour of adoration. A week day mass. Maybe a one day personal retreat. Even a day at a park, beach, retreat house, hermitage or other solitary place is rejuvenating and you should not feel guilty about doing this, because Christ himself didn’t.
Don’t we all seek this deep down sense of rest, refreshment, peace and healing?
Why do we struggle alone with so many things? We often do though. We forget to pray. We forget to turn to Jesus and give him our cares and concerns, our worries, our problems, our heartaches. We carry them like heavy weights sometimes, disturbing the peace of our hearts.
Jesus said in the gospel, “learn from me” and this is such excellent advice. Jesus’s life was founded in prayer, which helped him to form a deep bond of love with his Father. We too, need to revive our prayer life. In a single moment God can impart the grace that we need to handle the things that cause us the most heartache, if we only give him half a chance.
Grace is such a beautiful gift. Everything else in life is such a struggle sometimes, such a difficult yoke to bear. But, grace transcends everything, solving problems, healing us, and bringing such a deep down sense of peace. Grace is as light as air.
Christ’s yoke is easy. The challenging part is learning from him.
