Wednesday of the
Second Week of Advent
(Isaiah 40:25-31; Matthew 11:28-30)
Most of the people who started Christmas shopping early probably
feel fatigued these days. There are so
many people to please and so many options to consider that shoppers are bound
to grow weary. Purchasing gifts on-line has
eased the burden. Of course, buying
gifts cards is a simple way out of the hustle.
Jesus in the gospel today proposes another solution.
He tells the people not to worry. Their concerns about pleasing one another,
indeed about procuring the necessities of life will be taken care of by relying
on him. “Take my yoke upon you,” he
says, “and learn from me.” His yoke is
the law of love – to love God above all and to love one’s neighbor as
oneself. Sharing joy with both God and
neighbor – and not trying to ingratiate oneself with others by bestowing gifts –
results in a peaceful heart.
Christmas shopping has become a mania that jeopardizes
the meaning of Christmas. Black Friday
has come to garner more interest than Good Friday. But Jesus did not come to supplement our
wardrobes, much less to jumpstart the economy.
He came to free us from selfishness which inhibits our going out to
others in joy.
