Are You Tired All of the Time?

December 7, Wednesday of the Second Week of Advent
Memorial of Saint Ambrose, Bishop and Doctor
Daily Readings: Is 40:25-31, Ps 103:1-2, 3-4, 8 and 10, Mt 11:28-30

We are familiar with this verse from Matthew: “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest.”

But have we ever considered this: “take my yoke upon you and learn from me.”

It’s like, Lord, you want us to seek rest from you and yet you still want us to learn from you? What is it that we need to learn further? I’m supposed to rest, remember?

Think about it, though. Our need for rest is so self-centered, that we just take and take what the Lord can give us. “Learn from me,” He said. “They that hope in the LORD will renew their strength, they will soar as with eagles’ wings.”

Maybe the Lord meant that resting is not just physically resting?

Think: do we complain to God most of the time, or whine because we are simply tired? I think the Lord wants to say is: “Stop for a while. Reflect with me.” Sometimes, we get tired because it is also of our own doing. Partying, drinking, watching our favorite k-dramas until the wee hours of the night, eating too much because we think we “deserve it.” And then when we get the chance, we sleep more than 10 hours and then wake up still feeling more tired than ever. Then you realize that you haven’t done your chores or missed the chance to bond with your family on the breakfast table.

Maybe it’s time we realize that we need to avoid abusing our free time.