It is summertime and many people are longing for a break.
Some have been planning their vacation for a long time already.
Others have decided they’ll leave as a family for a ‘trip to nowhere’.
A few will be spending time at their chalet in the countryside.
All of them want to leave aside the usual routine and have a REST!
Surprisingly, the gospel text speaks precisely of this (Matthew 11:25-30).
Jesus himself invites us to experience true REST.
He tells us:
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will 
give you rest.”
God knows – he does indeed! – that we often feel wearied and burdened–
we really need a rest.
REST… from what?
From the burden of useless worry…
From the repeated efforts to prove ourselves…
From the constant feeling of having to perform…
From the painful memories surging so often from the past…
From the regrets of missed opportunities…
From the chores, the tasks, the duties demanding time, always more time…
It does not mean to give up the responsibilities we have freely accepted.
We are not to forget what we have committed ourselves to do for people who count on us.
We will not simply think only of ourselves and what we feel like, or desire.
It means that we will take on a new… ‘lifestyle’, if it can be put this way.
The gospel text adds:
“Take my yoke upon you and learn from me”.
This is the second part of Jesus’ invitation: to learn from him, taking on his ways, his ‘lifestyle’.
We may find – amazingly – that this takes away the stress as well as the self-centredness.
We go about daily living in a more relaxed fashion.
Life becomes lighter, freer, more enjoyable… restful!
It is worth a trial!…
Answering Jesus’ invitation is a good occasion to do this…
Note: Another text is available on a different theme, in French, at: https://image-i-nations.com/14e-dimanche-de-lannee-a-2023/
Source: Images: pexels.com (Uriel Mont) (Ron Lach) Proud to Be T J’S Man
