Today our First Reading from Isaiah and the Gospel from Matthew provide so much comfort and assurance in God’s unfailing help. The Prophet Isaiah writes that, “They that hope in the Lord will renew their strength, they will soar as with eagle’s wings; They will run and not grow weary, walk and not grow faint.” The Lord says in the Gospel that “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest.”
We human beings are not like God! We are limited. We are weak. We grow weary, get exhausted by life’s circumstances. Both readings underscore the important fact that when we abandon ourselves to God, He will provide the strength and the renewal we need to positively journey throughout life! We don’t have to carry our own burdens.
Running and Not Being Weary
I love the images that have been used in today’s readings. The metaphors include soaring, running, and walking. The Prophet Isaiah says that if we choose to rely on the Lord amidst all our adversities, we will be like eagles that use the strong aggressive winds to lift themselves higher and glide above the storm clouds. With God on our side, we will be able to use our challenges as opportunities to rise to greater heights!
The image of “running and not being weary” speaks to the urgency and energy that is sometimes needed to carry out the responsibilities of human life. Sometimes our tanks run empty or dry, our energy or enthusiasm runs low and we feel exhausted. However, when we rely on the Lord, He will always supply the needed energy. A senior priest I once lived with as a young priest provided important counsel to me about the challenge of some of the priests who were leaving the priesthood. He noted that if you carefully examined the matter, a sizable number but not all of them, had long stopped praying and therefore exhausted themselves. He encouraged me to maintain an active prayer life as a young priest. Otherwise, I would be “all activity” and eventually run myself weary! We can say the same thing about any ministry or any vocation that God has called us to. It is only the Lord who can provide the sustained strength and the resilience needed for us to faithfully carry out any of our vocations or ministries.
The Lord Provides Strength for the Journey
In this time of Advent, we can ask ourselves: In which area of my life do I feel exhausted and need new strength? Is there something in my relationships, my ministry, my family life, my career, or my prayer life that can do with some new energy? Let us bring it to the Lord.
For humans, even “the strong” and “the young” can grow tired, weary, and exhausted. However, those with a trusting reliance on God will be renewed, turning their weakness into limitless strength, and their adversities into new opportunities. May the Lord help us experience these promises in our lives. Amen.
- Today’s Readings
- Father Fred's inspirational homily was recorded live during Mass at the Father Peyton Center this morning. You can view the Mass (and the Rosary at the 30-minute mark) on the Family Rosary YouTube page.
- To join the Rosary and Mass Livestream, visit the Family Rosary YouTube or Facebook page at 11:30 a.m. Eastern, Monday – Friday. Consider inviting others to join, too! (*If you are not a member of Facebook and a signup window appears, simply select the X at the top of the pop-up message and continue to the livestream.)
