"more than we bargained for"
"Come to Me, all you who are weary and find life burdensome, and I will refresh you." —Matthew 11:28
Jesus commands the weary and burdened to come to Him to be refreshed. This is unusual because you normally don't have to command weary people to seek refreshment. Nevertheless, weary and burdened people are reluctant to come to Jesus because He will not only give them refreshment and rest, but also His yoke and burden (Mt 11:29-30). Jesus will not take orders from us, but give orders to us. He will be our Lord.
For example, the Israelites came to the Lord to ask Him to free them from slavery in Egypt. The Lord did this, and also led them into the discipline of the desert. He gave them the Ten Commandments along with a few hundred other commandments. The Israelites rebelled because they didn't like the austerities of the desert and the self-denial called for by the commandments.
God did what the people wanted and much more. This is why we are reluctant to come to Jesus for refreshment and rest — because He will give us more than we bargained for. Like Jesus' hometown folk, we find Jesus "too much" for us (Mk 6:3).
Prayer: Jesus, may I let You love me more.
Promise: God said: "I am concerned about you and about the way you are being treated." —Ex 3:16
Praise: St. Camillus was rejected twice as a novice because of a leg ulcer, which led him to a life of ministry to the incurably ill.
Reference: (As the "Year of Faith" draws to a close, there is still time to be nourished by one of our Discipleship Retreats. Log on to www.presentationministries.com and check out our fall retreats.)
Rescript: †Most Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Auxiliary Bishop, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, January 18, 2013
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