"Come to me all you are weary ..."

''Come to me all you are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest,'' are words spoken by Jesus in Matthew's gospel (11:28-3) which is the first reading today. I think we usually concentrate on the second part that says that Jesus will give us rest. But the first part tells us a lot about the knowledge that Jesus had of our human condition. He could be talking about life today. He recognizes that many people are going through a difficult time because of unemployment, homelessness and the high cost of living. He knows what it is like to walk through the corridors of hospitals and resthomes where many elderly people and stroke victims have lost the ability to walk, talk or look after their basic needs. Those people who have strong faith will be helped by the promise that Jesus will give them rest and that he will help to carry the yoke of suffering. But there are people without such faith or who are doubting their faith because of the hardships they are suffering. In their case words are little help. They need to see that support is coming to them through friends, relations and other kind people. There is nothing that causes so much pain to a sick elderly person when she feels that she has been abandoned or rejected by those she expected would be the ones to support her most. Jesus understood the burdens of those he met in his lifetime. Think of his compassion for the widow whose only son had died or for the lepers who begged for a cure. Advent is the time when we reflect on the birth of Jesus into our world and our lives and now he is calling upon us to bring his gentleness to those who are weary of the burdens they carry. As we thank God for all those dedicated nurses and caregivers who are constantly present to those suffering, we ask that we too may bring a word of kindness and support to someone we know who is has no one to help lift the yoke from their shoulders.