“Yes, for your way and your judgments, O Lord, we look to you;… My soul yearns for you in the night, yes, my spirit within me keeps vigil for you;...”
          Isaiah 26: 7-9, 12, 16-19 

“…From heaven the Lord looks down on the earth…”
          Psalm 102:13-14ab, 15-21   

“…’Come to me all you who are burdened, and I will give you rest.’…”
          Matthew 11: 28-30   

Today we are quietly and peacefully reminded, that God will continue to ask us to turn to Him each moment of each day; so as to turnover our daily burdens regularly before they become too heavy.  Today is such a time, as we find ourselves being knocked down by the news on the world front as well as the news on the home front.  May we open our hearts today and declare as the prophet Isaiah, when he said, “Yes, for your way and your judgments, O Lord, we look to you;…” (Is 26:8). 

Each time I sit down to write a reflection, I spend more time in God’s Word than usual.  I am amazed at how this process helps the readings become fresh and new.  This isn’t a time for the usual quick read in order to satisfy my mind, but rather, it is a time to read the Word over and over until I’ve satisfied my soul.  Isaiah speaks of that feeling in today’s reading, in his beautifully poetic way, “My soul yearns for you in the night, yes, my spirit within me keeps vigil for you;…” (Is 26:9).  Our souls do yearn for this connection, time spent with our Lord; our deepest being finds peace and wholeness in the process.  The cares, pressures and concerns of the day dissolve or become small; they are replaced with a renewed trust in the Lord who has called us to this rest.  “O Lord, you mete out peace to us, for it is you who have accomplished all we have done.” (Is 26:12)

So with open hearts we listen to the Word in Matthew.  “Come to me all you who are burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Mt 11:28)  Let us remember this invitation, throughout the day or night, and return to our soul’s resting place in prayer.  God is speaking in every moment, is your soul listening?  

The words of the Psalmist are for all people in every generation, “…heeding the plea of the lowly, not scorning their prayer.  Let this be written for the next generation, for a people not yet born, that they may praise the Lord.” (Ps 102:18-19)

Thank you Lord, for the reminder of your open invitation to come and sit with [You] for a while each day, (for as long as is necessary).  Only then can we be a part of the solution; the world needs hope-filled people.