Daily Catholic Lectio. Wed, 11 December ’24. Freedom from Fatigue

Daily Catholic Lectio

Wed, 11 December ‘24

Second Week of Advent – Wednesday

Isaiah 40:25-31, Psalm 103, Matthew 11:28-30

Freedom from Fatigue

At 9:00 AM, we go to the office and begin to work. As the hours pass, our bodies grow weary or tired. The energy and freshness we had in the morning fade, leaving us so drained by evening that even lifting an empty lunch bag feels like a burden. This is what we call physical fatigue, exhaustion, or weariness.

Activities such as reading books, taking notes, thinking and making decisions, checking accounts, and writing research papers tire our brains. This is known as mental fatigue.

While daily life continues, a sudden phone message bringing news of death, loss, or conflicts, or the experience of negative emotions and disappointments, can leave our hearts weary. This is what we term emotional fatigue.

Today, all inventions – washing machines, telephones, computers, artificial intelligence, medicines, pills, doctors, counsellors, religion, and spirituality – exist, in some way, to alleviate these fatigues: physical, mental, and emotional.

Yet, today’s message reminds us: the coming of the Messiah frees us from fatigue.

The prophet Isaiah, speaking to the exiled Israelites about their return to their homeland, declares:

“The Lord does not grow weary, nor does He get exhausted.”

“Those who hope in the Lord will not grow weary or faint.”

In the beginning, after completing creation, the Lord rested on the seventh day (cf. Gen 2:2). This rest was not due to weariness but to teach us the importance of distinguishing between work and rest.

From the day the Israelites began worshipping the golden calf at Mount Sinai (cf. Exod 32) to the time they were exiled to Babylon, they sinned against the Lord, broke His commandments, and turned away from Him. They believed that their sins had made the Lord weary, and He, tired of forgiving them, handed them over to slavery.

To correct this misunderstanding, Isaiah proclaims:

“The Lord does not grow weary, nor does He get exhausted in showing His mercy.”

Isaiah further prophesies:

“Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for (or hope in) the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.”

The Lord renews the strength of His people. Their strength surpasses that of young men, resembling the soaring strength of an eagle that rises above gravity and the wind. They are no longer drawn to earthly distractions; their hearts are directed toward God. Here, God not only offers a promise but also reminds them of their task: “soaring high in life.”

The Gospel Fulfilment

In today’s Gospel, we witness the fulfilment of Isaiah’s prophecy in Jesus. Addressing His contemporaries burdened with social, political, economic, and spiritual struggles, Jesus calls out:

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest… My yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

Jesus does not simply remove our burdens but invites us to take up His yoke. To do so, we must let go of other yokes. We cannot carry both the yoke of sin and the yoke of Jesus, nor can we bear the yoke of worldly pleasures alongside the yoke of God.

In this light, St. Paul writes:

“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery” (Gal 5:1).

From the Word to Life

(a) Recognizing our fatigue: What type of weariness troubles us today? Physical fatigue may require medicine and rest. Mental fatigue can be alleviated by stopping overthinking. Emotional fatigue may call for sharing our burdens with someone. Beyond these, spiritual weariness arises from the disbelief that “I cannot do anything” or “God cannot save me.” This weariness must be removed through faith in God and self-confidence.

(b) Offering words of comfort: Everyone we meet is fighting some battle – physical illness, work pressure, travel fatigue, relational conflicts, or social oppression. Instead of adding to others’ weariness, let us share comforting words.

(c) Taking on others’ burdens: Beyond offering words, let us act. We can help the elderly, provide for the poor, teach the ignorant, guide the youth, and protect children, lightening their burdens through our actions.

The “pilgrims of hope” never grow weary because their hope is in the Lord (Jubilee 2025, bite 269).

Fr. Yesu Karunanidhi (@ Sower)

Archdiocese of Madurai

Missionary of Mercy