By Sharon Wilson
Untitled by Julia Caesar via Unsplash. Used with permission
I am waiting in the drive through line at Starbucks as I write this post. Ever since Thanksgiving I have been running from one thing to another. Shopping, work, meetings, writing and don’t even mention decorating. I am barely done putting away my pumpkins!
It seems every part of my life, even my prayer life, is rushed.
I am exhausted … and so, the words of Jesus from today’s Gospel fill my heart with gratitude:
“Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened,
and I will give you rest.”
I will give you rest? What a concept!
Early in my reconversion, I drank deep from the rich wisdom of the treasury of faith. I signed up for everything my parish offered. In some ways I was trying to “pay back” God for giving me this great gift of His love. I remember asking my pastor – “I do not deserve God’s love. How can I repay Him?”
“You can’t repay Him,” the wise priest responded. “All God wants is your love.”
Of course that doesn’t mean I get to be slothful, but I have also discovered that when I am doing things out of love – it isn’t draining.
I have discovered a hermitage (a kind of retreat center) in Minnesota called Pacem in Terris. It is a place where you can go and stay in these little cabins and be completely alone. I’m told that the most common experience for those who go there is that they sleep. Yes – lots of sleep. Maybe it is being disconnected from social media, computers and telephones or maybe it is the quiet or maybe it is God inviting you to rest.
“For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.”
Even if it’s just for an hour or two, Advent can be a wonderful time to get away from the world, and to find your favorite prayer spot. (If you can spare a couple of days at a hermitage, even better!) It could be a hermitage or retreat center — or maybe just your parish adoration chapel or library. Take your Bible or favorite spiritual reading, and rest with God. Maybe take a nap.
God won’t mind; you are resting in His arms.
“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.”
Sharon Wilson – Wife, Mother, Writer, Catholic Speaker, and a WINE Specialist. Sharon has a degree in education and has worked as a freelance writer, Respect Life Coordinator, a teacher, in advertising, radio, buyer and in youth advocacy – She even rode an elephant in the circus once! Sharon speaks, writes and shares about God’s healing and about the great gift of being Catholic.
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