Many of us have encountered the acronym "RSVP" countless times in invitations for various social or religious events such as marriages, baptisms, birthdays, and wedding anniversaries. RSVP is an abbreviation for "Répondez S'il Vous Plaît," in French, which translates to "Reply if you please." The purpose of RSVP is to let the person sending the invitation know whether you accept or decline the invitation.
Today, Jesus, the King of all Hearts, offers us a powerful and comforting invitation: "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened..." (Mt 11:28). Every invitation contains essential elements: who it is from, who it is to, what it entails, and when it is offered. Let us examine these aspects of the Lord's invitation.
By Whom is the Invitation?
Jesus, who came into the world primarily as our Savior, extends this invitation. He loves us deeply and unconditionally. "You are precious in my eyes, and I love you." (Is 43:4) As a cherished Lover, He tugs at our hearts and invites us to find rest and solace in Him.
To Whom is the Invitation?
This warm and cordial invitation is extended personally to each one of us who is weary and heavy-laden. The Greek word for "weary" is Kopiao, meaning to toil to the point of exhaustion. Weariness could represent the internal fatigue caused by worry and frustration. On the other hand, being "heavy-laden" refers to the external burdens imposed by futile efforts and work. Many of us reach a point of exhaustion and fatigue in our everyday lives and our search for meaning and God. Yet, Jesus assures us that we are honored and privileged invitees. He says, "Behold, I stand at the door and knock." (Rev 3:20)
What is the Invitation?
Jesus invites us to rest in His Sacred Heart and learn the virtues of gentleness and humility from Him. Pride and a haughty heart rob a person of spiritual insights, causing them to focus solely on themselves while neglecting to gaze on the Lord. "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth." (Matthew 5:5)
When is the Invitation?
"Why delay good things in life?" The time to respond to this divine invitation is right now!
Olympic champion, Richards, was the only male two-time Olympic gold medal winner in the pole vault (1952 and 1956) until Armando Duplantis of Sweden matched that feat (2021 and 2024). He has recorded some favorite memories from his Olympic days. One memory is that of U.S. basketball star Bill Bradley giving a Russian athlete a Bible, saying, "It's the most important thing in the world to me."
Another memory is that of Fred Hansen, another U.S. pole vaulter. Fred was "nervous and worried because he was behind in the pole vault." Richards recalls how Hansen stopped "in the heat of the competition to read a letter in which his dad reminded him he can mount up with the wings of eagles." With that, Fred soared over the next crossbar.
Just as the Olympian soared with strength drawn from his father's words, Jesus invites you to rise above life's burdens with His love and grace. Will you accept His call and mount up with wings like eagles? Jesus reassures us that His yoke is easy and our burdens are light. His yoke is perfectly designed to suit our needs and abilities.
RSVP Required
The invitation has already been posted, and the Master is waiting. What will our response be? Will you RSVP—Répondez S'il Vous Plaît—to the Lord's invitation?
- Father Boby'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.)
