Rest
Thursday of the Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time
Read this Gospel passage aloud to the family
Matthew 11:28-30- Jesus said: “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.”
(Parent) Reread this part a few times aloud
“Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest.”
(Parent) Read this meditation aloud to the family
These three verses have brought such comfort to Christians since the beginning of Christianity. These are exactly the words we need to hear so often in our lives, when our work, our tiredness, our sufferings get us down. It is wonderful to hear our God saying this to us.
Yet it is a bit curious that Jesus tells the tired, the burdened, the suffering to take His yoke and His burden which are easy and light. After all, doesn’t Jesus suffer very much? Jesus tells us to take His yoke and to learn from Him. One wonderful lesson to learn is that struggle, work, and hardships can be very sweet when experienced with Christ. Jesus does not lose His peace when He suffers, nor does He lose His joy. How much more bearable could our sufferings be if we learn to suffer like this with Christ. We wouldn’t hate, fear, or run from suffering then. Instead, with Christ close by, we would have peace, joy, and even sweetness in our sufferings. Then our burdens would be light.
As a family, pray a portion of the Rosary together (very short if children are young) reflecting on the Scripture passage above. (Optional: allow a brief time for discussion or questions from children concerning their thoughts and prayer.)
Reminder for Parents: Pier is just meant to be a jumping off point. The real goal is that you pray & eventually use the fruits of your personal prayer as the content of your family’s prayer. Duc in altum.
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