First reading Isaiah 40:25-31
The Lord strengthens the powerless
‘To whom could you liken me
and who could be my equal?’ says the Holy One.
Lift your eyes and look.
Who made these stars
if not he who drills them like an army,
calling each one by name?
So mighty is his power, so great his strength,
that not one fails to answer.
How can you say, Jacob,
how can you insist, Israel,
‘My destiny is hidden from the Lord,
my rights are ignored by my God’?
Did you not know?
Had you not heard?
The Lord is an everlasting God,
he created the boundaries of the earth.
He does not grow tired or weary,
his understanding is beyond fathoming.
He gives strength to the wearied,
he strengthens the powerless.
Young men may grow tired and weary,
youths may stumble,
but those who hope in the Lord renew their strength,
they put out wings like eagles.
They run and do not grow weary,
walk and never tire.
Responsorial Psalm 102(103):1-4,8,10
My soul, give thanks to the Lord.
My soul, give thanks to the Lord
all my being, bless his holy name.
My soul, give thanks to the Lord
and never forget all his blessings.
It is he who forgives all your guilt,
who heals every one of your ills,
who redeems your life from the grave,
who crowns you with love and compassion.
The Lord is compassion and love,
slow to anger and rich in mercy.
He does not treat us according to our sins
nor repay us according to our faults.
Gospel Matthew 11:28-30
My yoke is easy and my burden light
Jesus said, ‘Come to me, all you who labour and are overburdened, and I will give you rest. Shoulder my yoke and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Yes, my yoke is easy and my burden light.’
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Rest in Me
“Come to ME…learn from ME”. In this Advent time, Jesus calls us again to draw closer to Him and enter into a personal relationship with Him. In the busyness of life, we must not forget to go to Him and find in Him the source of our rest. The word “rest” here does not mean prolonged hours of sleep. Instead, the rest that Jesus offers us is the renewal of our strength, the empowerment of our love, and the restoration of our peace.
In the first reading, the prophet Isaiah assures us that God “gives strength to the wearied” and “strengthens the powerless”. Let us open ourselves to receive the rest God wants to share. Today, let us stay close to Jesus and find our rest in Him.
Reflective questions:
Do I feel tired and overburdened now? What is Jesus’ message to me?
Do I feel tired and overburdened now? What is Jesus’ message to me?
Acknowledgment: Reflections are based on “Prayer for Living: The Word of God for Daily Prayer Year C” by Sr Sandra Seow FMVD.
