Scripture:
Isaiah 40:25-31
Matthew 11:28-30
Reflection:
My father used to jokingly muse: “I work and work and work and is all I get is kids!” He was born to Irish immigrants in 1911 and did what most of the Irish immigrants of his day did, worked hard and had kids. By working hard I mean he would leave the house at 4:30 am six days each week and often not come home ‘til after 5:00 pm. After dinner and a short period he retired for the day around 8:00 pm to start the routine all over the next day.
He had five boys and two girls. He centered his life on his family and while I never doubted my father’s love for us, he really showed that love when he retired and each Sunday his grandchildren would come over to spend the day with grandpa. He died Christmas Eve his favorite day of the year, 1986. I think Isaiah must have been thinking of my dad and the many men like him in his day when he wrote what we read in today’s first scripture selection:
“They that hope in the LORD will renew their strength,
they will soar as with eagles’ wings;
They will run and not grow weary,
walk and not grow faint.” (IS 40:31)
Dan O’Donnell is a Passionist Partner and a longtime friend of the Passionists. He lives in Chicago.