The Catholic Calendar for Wednesday, December 7, 2005
Wednesday of the Second Week of Advent
Saint Ambrose, bishop and doctor of the Church

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Isaiah 40:25-31
Psalm 103:1-2, 3-4, 8 and 10
Matthew 11:28-30

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

“Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened,
and I will give you rest." (Matthew 11:28)

This must have been such a relief and source of hope for the Jews who heard this message. They were under the constant burden of a set of complicated laws, rules and rituals that made their worship difficult and burdensome. Jesus replaced all that. As He said at a different time, we are to love God with all we are and others as ourselves -- "This is the law and the prophets." Jesus' two simple commandments replaced all that was required of the people and they were set free from the burdens placed on them by the old law.

But it does not stop here. There is a part of this message that applies as much today as it did then. Jesus came to free us from the terrible weight of sin and separation from God. He came to forgive and to free us and offer us hope, love and mercy. With His simple message and His complete sacrifice, our burdens have been lifted and replaced with a yoke of love, hope, charity. His call is still there for all to hear, "come and I will give you rest." Today, let us rest in Him, free from all our burdens.

- Don Claunch, SFO
(dlclaunch at bresnan dot net)

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