Last week, I was with a group of teens from our parish on a mission trip in Detroit, Michigan. There we lived in community and helped the people of Detroit with various acts of service and charity. What a fulfilling way to put our faith into action and truly experience Christ in those we served. What a blessing it was for our teens to have such an awesome experience.
But during that one full week of hard labor – of long days and short nights, I have to admit that I was really tired. My body ached, my muscles were sore, and my head throbbed from the heat and exertion. And suddenly I recalled an old proverb that I came across long ago: One can go a long way after one is tired. And that became my mantra for the week.
Now that I am home and back to my normal routines, I still find myself battling the aftermath of post-mission-trip fatigue. To be honest, I feel that I am not fully back to my normal self. Then today, I read these words from Matthew’s gospel:
Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves. For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.
There’s no doubt denying it: I am tired. But there is so much to do. We saw that as we worked in Detroit. We see that right here were we live. As Catholic Christians, we know that we must follow our baptismal calling to love and serve others, and to treat others with the respect and dignity that they deserve. As people committed to Jesus and his gospel of love, we must:
- Bring ‘good news to the poor’ in a society where millions lack the basics of life.
- Bring ‘liberty to captives’ when so many are enslaved by poverty, addiction, ignorance, discrimination, and violence.
- Bring ‘new sight to the blind’ in a culture where the excessive pursuit of power or pleasure too easily blinds people to the dignity and rights of others.
- ‘Set the downtrodden free’ in communities where crime, racism, family disintegration and economic and moral forces leave people without real hope.
There is so much for us to do. But I’ll say it again: I am tired! In fact, all of us are tired! When we pray and reflect on all that needs to be done in our communities and in our world, at times it seems overwhelming and beyond our capabilities. We get tired just thinking about it. Sometimes we feel like we don’t have the energy or drive to do what needs to be done. But that’s when we need to stop, breathe, and take it to prayer. For it is in prayer when we realize that God is right there with us, giving us the strength we need to do what is right, good, and just. We find the ability to do more than what we think is possible when we allow ourselves to be strengthened by God.
Yes, one can go a long way after one is tired – but only if we rest in the Lord. May we find the strength to allow God to work in us and through us so that we may continue to serve one another, to do what we are being called to do, and to help make a difference in the lives of others.
