Rest seems like a nice idea two weeks before Christmas. “Nice idea,” as in, “no chance that’s going to happen.”

But why is that?

“Come to me,” Jesus said to the crowds in today’s Gospel, “and I will give you rest.”

Given what we know about Jesus, this wasn’t just a figure of speech. Given what we’ve seen of Jesus’s life, He knows what He’s talking about. Given what we’ve experienced in our lives, Jesus probably knows better than we do. 

But what does rest mean? Does it mean stopping and dropping everything? Does it mean getting a good night’s sleep? Or is it referring to a mental state of being?

The answer to that may be best figured out individually. It may be that rest means something different to you than to your neighbor, spouse, or colleague. Some people rest by sleeping, and others rest by reading. Some rest as they tidy a room or fold laundry, while others rest as they paint, write, or bake.

The key to this rest is Jesus. Go to Him and seek rest. Let Him guide you to it. His yoke is easy, and His burden light.