I find consolation in today's Gospel during these difficult times of Pandemic. Jesus told his disciples: “come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest." What kind of 'rest' is Jesus talking about?

Many people took 'involuntary rest' from their works and now they are jobless becoming a burden for the family. I got a lot of 'rest' during this quarantine time too; basically, most of my activities stopped and also my busy schedule, but it doesn't feel like that, it feels more like a burden. While staying at home I got more time for taking rest but this is only physical rest, mentally and spiritually speaking is a burden because of the stress of the psychological effect of the pandemic. As the ministry and activities go back progressively to the new normal, I experience many worries; not only on getting infected by the virus but mainly on becoming an agent of infection to others. My mind and heart are disturbed by these worries.

Certainly, Jesus’ rest is no about physical rest, but on the context of the Gospel, it is about ‘rest’ from the burden of sin which destroys our inner peace of mind and heart. How to attain this rest? Jesus invites his disciples to learn from Him who is "meek and humble of heart," then He adds “...and you will find rest for yourselves.”

We may experience many problems and worries because of the pandemic, but we can still keep the peace in our minds and hearts by being meek and humble like Jesus. I have been worried about things that are out my control which I would like to change. Giving rest to my mind and heart means being humble enough to leave behind those things that I cannot change, accepting the reality, and focusing on the things that I can change. Even in these difficult times, Jesus is with us and we can find consolation in prayer by talking to Jesus whose “yoke is easy, and His burden light.”