Chaplain's messages
December 2022
Gospel
Matthew 11:28-30
Jesus said to the crowds:
“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.”
Advent is a time to reflect and prepare for the coming of Christ, yet many times, we miss
the opportunity due to the busyness of our normal schedule and then the busyness of
Christmas – gift buying, attending celebrations, baking, and so forth. In this busyness,
we lose the meaning of the season. One thing that the Lord encourages to do during
Advent is to “rest,” “to just be,” as He reminds us in the Gospel today. The Lord sees
“rest” as a pause from the “hectic,” a disengagement from things that overburden us or
“burn us out,” removing ourselves from the anxiety of the world, or avoiding those things
that can “distract” us from the things that truly matter. “Rest” consists of three things:
1. A “connection to Christ” – a relationship that brings peace into our lives, an
opportunity to just “be” – “be” in his presence, “be” in his grace, and “relish” in
his goodness – a place of clarity and discernment
2. A “renewal” in ourselves when we realize or discern between what matters and
doesn’t matter … where we distinguish between the stuff which we overburden
ourselves with and the stuff that we need to carry – in other words, the
opportunity to see if we’re “saying yes” to the right thing and “no” to the wrong
things
3. A “time to rejuvenate” so that we don’t become “harden” or “bitter” – “grumpy” or
“lost” … honestly asking ourselves if our “distractions” – those things that keep us
busy or on the go – are actually keeping us from God.
Point of Reflection: This time of season can become “busier” than normal, are we
taking the “rest” which Christ speaks about? How can we find “rest” this Advent?
Gospel
Matthew 11:28-30
Jesus said to the crowds:
“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.”
Advent is a time to reflect and prepare for the coming of Christ, yet many times, we miss
the opportunity due to the busyness of our normal schedule and then the busyness of
Christmas – gift buying, attending celebrations, baking, and so forth. In this busyness,
we lose the meaning of the season. One thing that the Lord encourages to do during
Advent is to “rest,” “to just be,” as He reminds us in the Gospel today. The Lord sees
“rest” as a pause from the “hectic,” a disengagement from things that overburden us or
“burn us out,” removing ourselves from the anxiety of the world, or avoiding those things
that can “distract” us from the things that truly matter. “Rest” consists of three things:
1. A “connection to Christ” – a relationship that brings peace into our lives, an
opportunity to just “be” – “be” in his presence, “be” in his grace, and “relish” in
his goodness – a place of clarity and discernment
2. A “renewal” in ourselves when we realize or discern between what matters and
doesn’t matter … where we distinguish between the stuff which we overburden
ourselves with and the stuff that we need to carry – in other words, the
opportunity to see if we’re “saying yes” to the right thing and “no” to the wrong
things
3. A “time to rejuvenate” so that we don’t become “harden” or “bitter” – “grumpy” or
“lost” … honestly asking ourselves if our “distractions” – those things that keep us
busy or on the go – are actually keeping us from God.
Point of Reflection: This time of season can become “busier” than normal, are we
taking the “rest” which Christ speaks about? How can we find “rest” this Advent?