As I sat down to meditate on today’s readings, there were a few phrases and images that caught my eye. There are several references to being tired, burdened, weary - and I don’t know about you, but that resonates with me during this intensely busy time on campus. As I write this, it’s the last week of classes, and we are barreling towards finals - the most frenetic time in an already-hectic semester. I’m feeling my usual tension around celebrating the season of Advent even more keenly this year. I’m simultaneously trying to slow down, appreciate this time of prayerful anticipation, and prepare spiritually to celebrate the Incarnation - all while finalizing those last few lectures, attending my field’s major conference, writing a final exam, and answering approximately five million end-of-semester emails - and as usual, I’m not exactly killing it, Advent-wise. It’s comforting, then, to think about the Lord renewing our strength and keeping us from growing weary. There are all kinds of labors and burdens, of course, and it would be silly to think that the hectic pace of life on a college campus at the end of the semester is among the heaviest that life might lay on us. But still, Jesus asks for all of us to come to him and lay our burdens down, no matter what they are.

The other image that I loved comes from the Psalm, where we hear that the Lord “crowns us with kindness and compassion.” Can you imagine how different the world would be if we all moved through life radiating the kindness and compassion that God intends for us? As I continue trying to muddle through the next couple of weeks, I’m going to keep this image in my head, and try to keep the values of kindness and compassion in my heart. So, everybody, let’s straighten those crowns of ours, and keep on going with both our Advent journey and our end-of-semester scramble.