Thursday July 20th: “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden.”

“You don’t have to be a star to be in my show.”

Matthew 11:28-30

These words of Jesus remind me of the song ‘You don’t have to be a star’ by Marilyn McCoo, Billy Davis Jr. “Baby come as you are with all your heart and I’ll take you in.” Jesus, the ultimate lover, invites us to come. When? Now! At this moment. As we are. Burdened and in need of relief; sinful and in need of mercy; weary and in need of rest; mourning and in need of comfort; feeling worthless and in need of affirmation – with our real selves – broken.

Recently, I made a foolish decision, and nothing could provide comfort to me about it. However, in prayer I could face it and listen to Jesus saying COME NOW in your depressed state. You don’t have to be a star to be in my show. There are many people barely hanging on:our children, our spouse, friend, neighbour, poor, migrant, the bandit, the gang leader. Can we be like Jesus inviting them to come for we are gentle and lowly of heart, our yoke is easy and burden light?

We pray.