Wednesday Second Week of Advent, Dec. 13, 2006

Scripture: Isaiah 40:25-31. Psalm 103:1-4, 8-10. Matthew 11:28-30 Yesterday's message of compassion from God the Comforter in Isaiah continues in the Gospel today. In Jesus' words we are to find that comfort and support for those burdensome times and moments in life when we are overwhelmed with what we are called to do and realize how limited we are. Yesterday, we heard these words form Isaiah: "Comfort, give comfort to my people, says your God." Today we hear the very direct and personal words of Jesus saying to us, " 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." Jesus is speaking directly to our hearts making us feel his warmth of compassionate love. He is God's loving Son and the agent of God's redemptive and creative love for us. The words complement what Jesus already said on the mountain when he gave us his great sermon and they parallel the first and third beatitude: "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven; blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth." We have this message of hope and trust through Jesus our Comforter and Compassionate God. Through hope we soar like the youthful eagle learning to fly and our spirit is renewed--the joy of our youth returns. We hope in one another through this hope Jesus has given us and we are enveloped in trust through people who retutn this hope through their love. Jesus is always at the center of this hope for he is the God of love. The Scriptures inspire us to trust in the words of Jesus and to put them into our actions and dispositions. It is then that our burdens become lighter and the yoke of our conscience is freed of scruples or rationalizing thoughts that excuse our sins. We become balanced through Jesus' action in our lives and through the guidance of the Spirit. Yes, Jesus is gentle and humble of heart and we, as his disciples who are called to witness to this gentleness and humbleness in our own hearts and minds. This is what the season of Advent is all about. Our God of compassion will not delay, he will come soon. Maranatha! Come, Lord Jesus, come!