Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened...

by David Lins  |  07/09/2023  |  (Being) Catholic Matters

I’ve been feeling a bit tired lately.

No. That isn’t entrely true. I’ve been what my rural family used to call “bone tired.”

I think it’s a combinaton of a few factors. I haven’t had a true vacation in eighteen months or so because all my vacation days were used up by back surgeries and subsequent recoveries. Layer over the top of it that my body is still dealing with the after-effects of the past year (including the rehab process.) Finally, add to all that my eagerness to make up for lost time contributing to family chores and projects.

I’d love to volunteer to house sit one of your cabins for a weekend once in awhile. And not because I’m such a generous person!

And the feeling of being tred isn’t unique to me. So many people seem to just be surviving the grind. This is why this weekend’s Gospel is so soothing.

“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.”

Did you catch that? Come to the Lord and find peace.

I get it. When you are exhausted, you just want to survive and relax if you are lucky enough to find a moment. But God is asking us to “come to him.” This indicates personal prayer, opening your Bible, atending Mass every week (at the minimum), and confession.

I would also suggest driving to the church alone at some point during the week. You can either enter the adoration chapel or sit alone in the big, dark church. Let God know you are tired. Offer it to him. Let him restore you.

Allow me to make my case with real-world examples.

When you are feeling physically tired, doctors tell you to work out, and somehow it seems to work. Or when you have a fight with a loved one, you want to avoid them, but overcoming that instinct and seeking them out usually results in healing (and even strengthening) of the relationship.

So if you are bone tired, come to the Lord and find rest.