In today’s Gospel, Jesus gives one of the most comforting invitations in all of Scripture: “Come to me, all you who labour and are burdened, and I will give you rest.” Our world is filled with so many people carrying heavy burdens (financial worries, illness, family tensions, grief, or disappointment). Others carry hidden burdens (anxiety, guilt, loneliness, or fear about the future). Jesus sees these realities, and invites us to come to him. The Christian life is not about pretending to be strong; it is about allowing Christ to carry what we cannot carry alone. When Jesus says, “Take

my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart.” One wonders why would Jesus offer a yoke to people already burdened? When we walk with Christ, he carries the greater weight. What crushes us when carried alone becomes lighter when carried with him. Zechariah tells us today that God’s way is not the way of force or domination. Jesus enters our lives with gentleness. He does not overpower us; he invites us. He asks for trust. In a world that tells us that we must rely on ourselves, achieve more, and prove our worth, we are being given another

route: dependence on God, openness to grace, and confidence that we are loved. What burden are you carrying that you have not yet given to Jesus? Jesus invites you to bring it to him. As we approach the Eucharist, let us place our burdens on the al- tar with the bread and wine. Christ who gives himself to us in this sacrament is the same Christ who says, “I will give you rest.” His rest is not escape from life; it is peace in the midst of life. It is the assurance that we do not walk alone. May we learn from the meek and humble Heart of Jesus, trust in his strength, and discover that his yoke is easy and his burden light.  Amen.—Fr. Patrice.