Gospel: Matthew 11:28-30
For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.”
The story is told of a very wealthy man who
was overwhelmed by his many problems. He tried every possible way to solve
them. He thought his money could help him, but to no avail. He turned to his
friends, indulged in drinking sessions and other vices, yet none of these
brought him peace or solved his problems.
He
was living like a ship without a rudder, aimlessly drifting with no clear
direction. Without realizing it, he was slowly wasting his life until he met a
relative who was an active member of their church. He opened his heart, and his
relative listened with compassion.
In
the end, his relative gave him only one piece of advice: "Go and spend
time with Jesus in the Adoration Chapel. Don't miss Sunday Mass, and when you
are at Mass, be attentive and listen to every word being spoken, for many of
those words will speak directly to your heart. Read your Bible as well, for
Jesus will also speak to you through His Word."
To
make a long story short, he began spending time regularly in the Adoration
Chapel, attended Holy Mass as often as he could, and faithfully read the Holy
Bible.
After a few weeks, his life began to change. His problems did not disappear overnight, and there were still challenges that needed to be faced. But something within him had changed. He had discovered where true peace could be found.
He no longer ran first to his wealth, his friends, or his vices. Instead, he turned to Jesus in the Adoration Chapel, encountered Jesus in the Holy Mass, and listened to Jesus in the Holy Bible. The more he drew near to the Lord, the more he found the strength, wisdom, and peace to face each day.
In
today's Gospel, Jesus lovingly says to us:
"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."
What
a beautiful invitation from the heart of Jesus! He does not wait for us to
become perfect before calling us. He invites us as we are—with our sins,
weaknesses, fears, disappointments, and heavy burdens. He knows every struggle
we carry, every silent tear we shed, and every battle we fight within. Yet
instead of condemning us, He gently says, "Come to Me."
How
often do we search for peace in the wrong places? Like the man in the story, we
may be tempted to rely on our own strength, possessions, achievements, or even
other people to fill the emptiness within us. While these may provide temporary
comfort, only Jesus can give the lasting peace that satisfies the deepest
longings of our hearts.
When
we spend time with Him in the Adoration Chapel, receive Him in the Holy
Eucharist at Mass, immerse ourselves in His Word, and speak with Him in prayer,
He gradually transforms us from within. Our circumstances may not always change
immediately, but our hearts do. He gives us the grace to carry our crosses with
hope, the wisdom to make the right decisions, and the courage to keep trusting
Him no matter what we face.
May
we never forget that Jesus is always waiting for us with open arms. His
invitation remains the same today as it was centuries ago: "Come to
Me." He alone can give the rest that the world can never offer.
Today,
let us bring every burden, every worry, every fear, and every sin to Jesus. Let
us surrender our lives completely to Him and allow Him to lead us each day. As
we choose to remain close to Him in prayer, in the Holy Eucharist, and in His
Word, we will discover that His grace is always enough and that His love never
fails.
The
question is not whether Jesus is waiting for us—He always is. The question is
this: Will
we continue carrying our burdens alone, or will we finally place them into the
loving hands of Jesus and trust Him to lead us into the peace that only He can
give? —Marino J.
Dasmarinas
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