When life is getting us down, Jesus commands us to come to Him, and He promises to give us rest (Mt 11:28). Jesus is not promising us a good night's sleep or a nap. For a Jew, "rest" connotes the promised land (see Ps 95:10-11), the symbol of the fulfillment of the Jewish people's greatest aspirations. Thus, Jesus promises ultimate fulfillment to the weary and burdened.

The Catholic Church has expounded on this in the funeral Mass prayer, "Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace." Jesus promises us not just "temporary relief" or a "break in the action" but the life of heaven. According to the prayer, "rest" includes "perpetual light," "the mercy of God," and "peace." In Matthew 11:28, Jesus promises to give us eternal life with Him, the beatific vision, heaven, "absolute fullness" (Col 1:19).

Therefore, "while the promise of entrance into His rest still holds" (Heb 4:1), let us come to Jesus and take the yoke of the cross on our shoulders. Let us come into His eternal rest.

Nihil Obstat:  Reverend Ralph J. Lawrence, December 29, 2002

Imprimatur:  †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, December 31, 2002