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Wednesday, December 7

Saint Ambrose, bishop and doctor of the Church

Giving the Rest to His Rest

In today’s Gospel, the Lord is calling us to come to him and he will give us rest! So often we become overtired and then can’t sleep when we lay down! There is so much on our minds, so much to do, and often so little time to do it! The answer for this lies in Jesus’ own words that he is speaking to all of us: “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest.”
Jesus does not beat around the bush. It should come in loud and clear, he wants to give us rest! Too often we think that rest applies only to our physical tiredness, but we can also become emotionally and spiritually weary. Our precious Jesus wants to rest those parts of us too! He wants us to be yoked to him so that he can help us as we wend our way to eternity.
When oxen are yoked, they work together to pull the load. There are those times in all of our lives when we feel that our burden is too heavy and that we can’t go on one more step by ourselves. Today Jesus is telling us that we don’t have to! When we are yoked with him, our burdens are light!

Reflection based on Matthew 11:28-30
Molly Kelly

Loving Father, help me to surrender to your Son’s love when weariness makes me feel defeated.

Thursday, December 8

The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary

clinging to Freedom with a Face

“Hail, full of grace!” In the history of the world, these words have been addressed to only one person. She is a woman. Mary of Nazareth. The angel Gabriel speaks this greeting to announce the Incarnation. At that precise moment, and with Mary’s divinely ordained consent, the eternal Son of God became man for our salvation. Heaven and earth rejoice.
The Incarnation of the Son of God touches the whole human race. No wonder that the Church encourages us to guard and cherish this great mystery: “The doctrine of faith must be firmly believed which proclaims that Jesus of Nazareth, Son of Mary, and he alone, is the Son and the Word of the Father.”
The message of the angel also tells us about the Mother of Jesus Christ. “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.” God saved Mary in a way that remains unique to the Mother of the Redeemer. In view of the foreseen merits of her Son, Mary is preserved from contracting original sin. What Christ offers effectively to each person on earth, Mary receives fully at her conception. That Mary is conceived without sin enhances her freedom. She is able to love God more. Those who follow Jesus of Nazareth also cling to his Mother Mary. They recognize in her Immaculate Conception a source of hope.

Reflection based on Luke 1:26-38
Father Romanus Cessario

Loving Father, you son’s Immaculate Mother is our purity in the flesh. Deepen my devotion to Mary Immaculate.