9th . WEDNESDAY IN WEEK 2 OF ADVENT

1st Reading: Isaiah40:25-31

Encouragement for the weary people, from God, who strengthens the powerless

To whom then will you compare me, or who is my equal? says the Holy one. Lift up your eyes on high and we see: Who created these? He who brings out their host and numbers them, calling them all by name; because he is great in strength, powerful in power, not one is missing.

Why do you say, O Jacob, and speak, O Israel, "My way is hidden from the Lord, and my right is disregarded by my God." Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God,  the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint and strengthens the powerless. Even young men will faint and be weary, and the young will fall exhausted; but those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall work and not faint.

Gospel: Matthew 11:28-30

Jesus assures us that his yoke is easy, and his burden is light

Jesus said to his disciples, " Come to me all you that are weary and are carrying  heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you,  and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."

REFLECTIONS AND MEDITATIONS ON THE READINGS

Jesus  in the gospel mentions "yoke" and "rest". He says: "....... I will give you rest, " and "Take my yoke..... for my yoke is easy." What kind of rest and yoke does Jesus have in mind for us? And how can they be good for us? In Greek, the word 'rest' suggests renewal and refreshment or well-fitting. Rest does not promise that the burdens will go way or we will not be weary again. But to have rest with Jesus promises us renewal and refreshment in this journey of life.

On the other hand, the word ' yoke' is a curved piece of wood which is fitted on the neck of oxen for the purpose of binding to them the traces by which they might draw the plough and others,( e.g. Num19:2). In Hebrew, this word is also used figuratively to refer to severe bondage, affliction, subjection, submission, discipline, duty and obedience ( e.g. Lev.26:13). They spoke of the yoke of the law, of the commandments, of the kingdom of God. But it also speaks of freedom and life; of submission to God. In the New testament the word ' yoke' is also used to denote servitude ( e.g. Matt 11:29,30).

Jesus invites us to come to Him because His yoke is "easy" and His " burden light" It is because he offers us a new kingdom of righteousness, peace and joy. In His kingdom sins are not only forgiven but removed and eternal life is poured out for all its citizens. This is not a political Kingdom but a spiritual one. The yoke of Christ is easy simply because it liberates us from the burden of guilt and from the oppression of sin and hurtful desires.

And so, let us accept Jesus' invitation to come to Him, to have a coffee-break with Him, to have a spiritual refreshment with Him, or have divine snacks with Him, if we are weary and find life burdensome. Accepting that invitation does not necessarily mean that we will no longer have difficulties. Jesus gives meaning to all different burdens and difficulties that we carry; guiding and helping us. In this context Jesus turns out what appears burden and challenge to us to become meaningful to our way of Christ's discipleship. With Him, we can face any challenge because He is in our side and giving us strength; gives us redirection of our life and consolation from all forms of burdensome. We should never reject His invitation because He can understand us and have experienced what we have experienced what we have undergone in life. Vatican II reminds us of this truth: "By His incarnation the Son of God has united Himself in some fashion with every man. He worked with human hands, acted by human choice and loved with human heart,"( Gaudium et spes no. 22).

This word of invitation of Jesus is a beautiful message for each one of us during this Advent season especially that many of us are busy with non essentials of life  and invent unnumbered schemes to occupy our minds. There is this story about an Angel and Satan. The Angel asked Satan on what to do with human beings to steal their time away from God. Satan answered: " Tempt them to spend, spend, spend, then borrow. Convince the wives to go to work and the husbands to work 6 or 7 days a week, 10-12 hrs day, so they can afford their life styles. Keep them  from spending time with their children As their family fragments, soon, their homes will offer no escape from the pressure of work.

Thus it is good and wise to pause for a moment and spend time with the Lord and have spiritual refreshment with Him. And then ask ourselves, ' what is my attitude toward hardship?'