"Come to Me" - Reflection on the 14th Sunday of Ordinary Time

Once, the king of a kingdom decided to hold a painting contest, and the topic for the artists was peace. The participants ought to paint something which captured peace.

Two paintings were chosen to present to the king for final judgment. One of them depicted a beautiful lake. The water was so calm one could see the fish swimming below the surface. The bank of the lake was covered in green fresh grass. The clouds in the blue sky were floating about lazily. Everyone who looked at it agreed that the painting would win.

The second painting was a complete opposite. It depicted a waterfall in the midst of a stormy night. The water was violently falling down from the top. The sky was filled with dark clouds, lightning was striking, and raining was pouring down. Nothing of the painting seemingly depicted peace.

And yet the king chose the second painting; for as he examined carefully he saw that the artist had painted a nest on a tree by the waterfall. In the nest lied three baby chicks sleeping peacefully under the wings of their mother which shielded them from the violent storm of the night. 

Life is filled with many trials and difficulties. No one can escape having to face challenges. They take different forms from financial problems to that of family life, from health issues to troubles at work. So very often these trials weight down our spirit and cause us to feel burdened and distressed.

A recent study stated that, “Depression is one of the greatest problems and killers of our time.” According to the same study, there are approximately 18.8 million American adults who are affected by depression disorder. 15% of those who are depressed will likely to commit suicide.[1]

Such shocking numbers!

In the midst of all this, Jesus’ voice echoes as a loving invitation to those who have to carry upon their shoulders the burden of life,  

“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.”

Notice how Christ did not offer to take away life’s troubles, but only offered rest. He, in addition, invited us to take upon ourselves his yoke. Do we not have enough to carry already? What is this yoke that he was talking about?

Pope Benedict, in his recent homily on the Feast of Sts. Peter and Paul, defined this yoke with these following words, “Christ’s yoke is identical with his friendship. It is a yoke of friendship and therefore "a sweet yoke."[2]

For that reason, Christ’s invitation to us to take up his yoke is nothing but to, all the more, enter into a deeper friendship with him where we can find the rest that we need. In our encounter with Christ as a friend we can lay down the burdens of life, even for only moments, and allow him to love us and care for us as his beloved.

A life without strives exists only in dreams. Life is meant to be difficult and the Lord permits that so as to bring out better persons just as fine gold is made after tried in fire. Nonetheless, God never lets us to be too overwhelmed with troubles. For in the midst of the storms of life, he is there, just like the mother bird in our story, with his arms wide open waiting to embrace us, to hold us, and to love us.

One night a man had a dream. He dreamed He was walking along the beach with the LORD. Across the sky flashed scenes from His life. For each scene He noticed two sets of footprints in the sand. One belonging to Him and the other to the LORD.

When the last scene of His life flashed before Him, he looked back at the footprints in the sand. He noticed that many times along the path of His life there was only one set of footprints. He also noticed that it happened at the very lowest and saddest times of His life.

This really bothered Him and He questioned the LORD about it. LORD you said that once I decided to follow you, you'd walk with me all the way. But I have noticed that during the most troublesome times in my life there is only one set of footprints. I don't understand why when I needed you most you would leave me.

The LORD replied, my precious, precious child, I Love you and I would never leave you! During your times of trial and suffering when you see only one set of footprints, it was then that I carried you.

Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened,
and I will give you rest.

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[1] Bob Murray, Ph.D. and  Alicia Fortinberry M.S., Depression Facts and Stats, http://www.upliftprogram.com/depression_stats.html.

[2] http://www.zenit.org/article-32967?l=english