In today’s Responsorial Psalm, our Lord offers us an incredible promise: “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest.” Therefore, not only will we avoid relapse and lose ourselves to the destructive way of sin if we place the Lord first in our lives, but we will find true rest. We know what it’s like to seek “rest” in the instant gratification that comes from our addictions, compulsions, and unhealthy attachments. While they may offer a path to “rest” that seems easier, it is one filled with empty promises that won’t bring us what our Lord wants for us: true and lasting rest.

Today’s first reading reminds us of God’s own humility, and therefore the importance it should have in our own lives. Humility can be a challenging virtue to practice, especially since our ego wants to make us the most important player in our lives, often at the expense of God. In fact, the acronym I’ve heard in recovery circles of “EGO”—Edging God Out—does a good job of getting at the danger of an unchecked ego. It’s our ego that is often the culprit for putting other things before God, leading us to believe we know what we best need or that we can take care of ourselves. Yet, when we are rightly ordered with God and our recovery—when they are kept as first priorities—our ego is kept in check and we can find lasting rest in Christ.

Reflection Questions

• What excuses are you using to not prioritize God and/or your recovery? What can you do today to ensure they become priorities in your life?
• What techniques, habits, or tools do you use to keep your ego in check so you can find true rest in Christ?

Daily Mass Readings

First Reading: Philippians 2:5-11
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 22:26B-27, 28-30AB, 30E, 31-32
Gospel: Luke 14:15-24

Reflection by Jana I.