The Gospel reading is from Mt 11:28-30 . Short but powerful, with a profound lesson for the world-weary.

Jesus said to the crowds:
“Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened,
and I will give you rest.” (v. 28)

“‘Come to me’ is Jesus’ invitation to all who have toiled and become tired in spirit. He invites them into a personal and rewarding relationship with him. In the context of Jesus’ ministry, those who are burdened are probably those who are struggling to bear up under the demands of the scribes and Pharisees , who ‘tie up heavy burdens and lay them on people’s shoulders’ (23:4).

“The benefit of answering Jesus’ call is spiritual rest. This is more than a promise of everlasting repose in the life to come. It is also a promise of inner peace in this life, the kind of peach that quiets the mind and hear and surpasses human understanding (see Phil 4:7). Of course, the followers of Christ will continue to experience frustration, trials, and suffering, but these burdens become lighter and more bearable with the Lord’s help.” (The Gospel of Matthew [Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture], 160-161)

Coming to Jesus is the condition for finding relief. All we need to do is choose to enter the sphere of his presence, and the unnatural pressures borne down upon us by both the world and ourselves begin to dissipate. To the extent that we are far from Jesus, we are the source of our own greatest burdens: without him as Lord, we are in thrall to the tyranny of our passions and, therefore, susceptible to the world’s manipulation and the influence of the Evil One. Without the all-consuming love of Jesus burning in our heart as pure transforming fire, the passions roam like ravenous orphans.” (Fire of Mercy, Heart of the Word, Vol. I , 714-715)

“Pope Paul VI teaches: ‘Jesus says now and always, ‘come to me, all who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.’ His attitude towards us is one of invitation, knowledge and compassion, friendship, goodness, remedy of our ailments; he is our comforter; indeed, our nourishment, our bread, giving us energy and life’ (Homily on Corpus Christ, 13 June 1974). (The Navarre Bible: St. Matthew, 117)

What immediately came to mind in reading this passage, is the great St. Augustine’s proclamation on the first page of his most famous work, The Confessions:

Thou madest us for Thyself, and our heart is restless, until it repose in Thee.

I have certainly used this line of the Doctor of Grace often in my teaching, but always with a tendency to point to, God willing, our eternal resting place in Heaven (we don’t pray for the deceased to Rest In Peace for nothing). But the commentaries quoted above turn our focus to our current slog through “this valley of tears.” There is no better cure for weariness with the world or anxiety about matters out of our control than to run to the loving arms of our blessed Lord and his virgin Mother in prayer, particularly in front of the Blessed Sacrament where we find Jesus truly present and the true Ark of the Covenant always near. So, for the battle weary, listen to what Jesus told His disciples upon their return from the evangelizing, healing, and exorcising mission on which He sent them:

Come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while. (Mk 6:31)

…and take some time to do the same.

St. Lucy, virgin and martyr, pray for us.

God bless.