The Feast of St Lucy | Wednesday 13 December 2023

Today is Wednesday the 13th of December, the feast of St Lucy, in the second week of Advent.


The Porter’s Gate sing, ‘Come, All Who Are Weary’. Are these words you need to hear today?

Come, all who are weary
I will give you rest
Come, all who are striving
Lean upon my breast
For my yoke is easy and my burden light
Oh come, all who are weary, come
Come, all who are wounded
Crying out “how long?”
Come, all who are waiting
For the break of dawn
Darkness will not hide me forever from your sight
Oh come, all who are wounded, come
Come, all who are weeping
All whose hope is gone
Come, all who are silent
All who’ve lost their song
Your every tear is numbered
Your every sigh unknown
Oh come, all who are weeping, come
Oh come, all who are weary, wounded and weeping
All of God’s children, come

Today’s reading is from the Gospel of Matthew.

Matthew 11: 28-30

‘Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.’

In today’s reading we hear the invitation of Jesus saying, ‘Come to me…’

How does it feel to hear these words?

Can you receive them as a personal invitation?

Take a moment to tell the Lord in your own words about any weariness or burden that you are carrying at this moment in time.

Jesus promises… ‘I will give you rest..’.

As you hear these words, try breathing out, as a way of releasing the weight of these burdens into His hands…

… I will give you rest…

And then take a deep breath in, to receive this rest that he offers. Do this a few times.

As you hear the reading again, notice how Jesus describes himself.

Take time now to abide with the One who is gentle and humble in heart.

Jesus says, ‘and you will find rest for your souls…'

When you have a quiet moment today, try to return to this resting place with the Lord who loves you to find rest in him.

O Wisdom
Lord and Ruler
Root of Jesse
Key of David
Rising Sun
King of the Nations
Emmanuel.
Come, Lord Jesus.