(Read Isaiah 40:25-31, Psalm 103:1-4.8.10 & Matthew 11:28-30)
“Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.” (Isaiah 40:30-31)
When we are trying to describe something entirely new to someone, we often resort to comparisons. In today’s first reading, God asks: “To whom then will you compare me that I should be like him?”
In response, God says: “The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary, his understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength.” (Isaiah 40:28-29)
No matter how strong a person may be, he or she is bound to get tired once in a while, but for God, it is impossible to be tired. God is ever strong, ever powerful. He is the everlasting Rock. Now the Good News is that just as God is strong, so strong are those who take refuge in Him.
This is what the prophet Isaiah reveals when he said: “They who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.” (Isaiah 40:31).
In the same vein, we hear Jesus saying to us in today’s Gospel passage: “Come to me, all who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” (Matthew 11:28-29).
If you get a call from the President and on a friendly note he says: “Come and see me.” Wouldn’t you celebrate it and be super excited? But here is Jesus who doesn’t need an election to remain King of Kings and Lord of Lords! Why are you hesitant about going to Jesus? How come you do not trust Him to take away your burdens?
Are you really tired and troubled? Just go to Jesus. Carry your worries to Him and leave them there. Of course, if you don’t trust Jesus enough to handle your problems, you would end up taking them with you as you leave; you would end up worrying over the matter continuously. The yoke that we must take from Jesus is our complete trust.
Meanwhile, the burden we are to carry from Jesus is the cross. “If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” (Luke 9:23). If we are to take refuge in God, it means that we are also willing to live as children of the light; that we are willing to follow His word and obey His commands. For many, this is tough but as Jesus says, this “burden” of living according to the Word is very light.
I pray that may we find strength in our Lord Jesus Christ in hard times, knowing by faith that He'll never let us down. Amen.