“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.” Matthew 11:28-30

What a beautiful invitation from Jesus! This passage is worth reading over and over, and even memorizing so that it can easily be reflected upon during those more difficult moments in life. We all have those moments when we feel overwhelmed and burdened. Jesus wants us to hear and believe these words: “Come to me…”. Jesus invites us to come to Him no matter what is going on in our lives, to come to Him without hesitation and without fear.

Jesus also promises us that His “yoke is easy” and His “burden is light.” What does that mean? Does it mean that coming to Him will remove all hardship from our lives? No, far from it. What it means is that coming to Jesus will enable us to endure and walk through any hardship we encounter in life.

And so, let us reflect today, upon this gentle and glorious invitation from Jesus. Let Him enter into whatever it is that burdens us Let Him carry the yoke that we carry and give us, instead, the gentle yoke He has prepared for all of us. The cross we bear may not go away, but it will be transformed and made light in His grace.

“Lord, I surrender my life and all that I am to You. I accept Your invitation to come to You. Thank You for Your unfailing compassion and concern for me. Jesus, I trust in You.”