Come To Me - I Will Give You Rest

The words in today’s Gospel (Matthew 11:25-30) have a special meaning for schoolchildren and their parents, for families, and adults. This weekend marks the official start of the summer holidays. The anticipation that is felt at the beginning of this wonderful time of year is filled with joy and it brings with it a sense of relief – a kind of calm after the storm.

Finally,… we are able to find some peace and tranquility after the intense and demanding pressure of our daily schedules. The pleasure of being able to tank up our energy reserves, regroup, refocus and bask in contentment.

Learning to Relax and Switch Off

Not everyone can make the smooth transition from work to play. Some people need a few days before they can really relax and settle into the holiday mode. There are some people who get sick at the beginning of their vacation. I would say that it is a kind of wake-up call. A sign that the body and soul needs to learn to switch off. And there are people who, when they are on vacation and supposed to be relaxing and resting, they fill their days with nonstop activities as a way to escape the emptiness or boredom of doing nothing.

Jesus Said...

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

Jesus' words are inviting and reassuring, but I think that this invitation will not change our everyday life once the holidays are over. Of course it is possible to learn some lessons during vacation and then incorporate them into your everyday routine. However, with His invitation, Jesus addresses a fundamental change in human life.

Jesus' Invitation

During his public ministry, Jesus’ invitation was addressed primarily to those who suffered under the strict religious rules and regulations of the religious authorities of their time. It included the sick, whose miserable situation was considered to be a consequence of their sinful behavior. It included the poor and prisoners. Through Jesus, they experienced a new-found freedom, a life with dignity and respect. Jesus saw beyond their transgressions comforted them, healed them.

Jesus revealed to them a God who did not reject them – but who loved them.

Today, in our society, here in Western Europe, people are not punished or rejected because of their religious beliefs or practices. But let me ask this question: Who in today’s society is marginalised, excluded and rejected?

Judge or Forgive?

I recently celebrated a Pentecost service at the Bostadel Correctional Facility here in the Canton of Zug. Together with a colleague from the Protestant Church and one from the Catholic Church and about 30 prisoners, we celebrated a wonderful and powerful service. It was an honest, simple, spontaneous, and touching encounter between people and their own life stories.

Following the service, over coffee, an inmate asked me how I could speak with them so freely and openly. It was a good question. In our human nature, what are we more inclined to do? Judge or forgive? Are we able to give someone a second, third, or even a fourth chance? Do we write a person off forever after a bad experience? This is also a challenge for me. But returning to the conversation with the young inmate. At first, I was somewhat surprised by his direct question and I searched my inner self for a moment. My answer surprised me a little, but I felt a deep conviction.

"Come to me...

...all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest."

This Jesus, this King, is very different from the other kings, the rulers, and influential figures of Jesus’ time and even of our time. We heard the prediction of this divine King in our First Reading (Zec 9:9-10) from the prophet Zechariah:

"Rejoice heartily, O daughter of Zion! See, your king shall come to you; a just saviour is he, meek and riding on an ass."

Dear Sisters and Brothers, this King possesses power and greatness, but not in the way we might imagine. Jesus Christ comes with divine power, but He does not abuse it.
Jesus Christ comes in majesty and dignity, and He reveals Himself as human, filled with compassion and sympathy.
Christ Jesus suffers and fights with us and for us so that we may have life.

"He shall banish the chariot from Ephraim, and the horse from Jerusalem; the warrior’s bow (bo) shall be banished, and he shall proclaim peace to the nations.”

Jesus Christ lived His reign of peace and reconciliation consistently, even to the point of death on the cross. His message of joy was not tied to any outside influences or external source of power and he did not rule over people using terror, oppression or violence. And he invites us to follow Him.

His Yoke Is Easy, and His Burden Is Light

Sharing our personal lives with God does not make life easier, but the challenges of life become lighter but you will be not alone.

Let me repeat it:

Sharing our personal lives with God does not make life easier, but the challenges of life become lighter but you will be not alone.

God wants to refresh and delight the lives of people and grant them rest, peace and tranquility.
In the name of God, we from the Parish Team wish us all restful, joyful, and happy summer days at home or elsewhere.

“Praise be Jesus Christ - Now and forever. Amen!”

“Laudetur Jesus Christus - In saecula saeculorum