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Bible Readings: Matthew 11:25-30; Psalm 68:17-21

The chariots of God are tens of thousands
    and thousands of thousands;
    the Lord has come from Sinai into his sanctuary.   Psalm 68:17

“All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, 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.”  Matthew 11:27-30

 

“…no one ever told me about the laziness of grief.” (C.S. Lewis, A Grief Observed)

C.S Lewis, reflecting on his own grief during the loss of his wife Joy, realizes how grief leads a person to lose the motivation to do much of anything.  Not much seems to really matter anymore.  There is a weariness to grief.  And Lewis also notes that it is in these times of grief, loneliness, tiredness, that God seems to be so far away. 

In our Gospel passage today, Jesus declares that he is the One who helps us to find and “know” God.  It is no accident that he links this declaration with a promise that those who are “weary and burdened” can come to him and find rest for [their] souls.

When we come to Jesus, he offers to us the same kind of rest that a weary warrior might feel when he sees “thousands of thousands” of chariots coming from the mountain to rescue him (Psalm 68:17-21). 

Will you take time today to hear this invitation of Jesus and consider what areas of your life you are grieving or feeling weary and burdened.  Bring your heavy “yoke” to Jesus today and entrust it to his care. 

“Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior,
    who daily bears our burdens.”  (Psalm 68:19)