Some invitations are open invitations. Other invitations are more narrow, more targeted — they have names on them. The open invitation says, “Everyone is invited!” The targeted invitation says, “This particular set of people is invited.” 

We hear this week an invitation that came from Jesus. At first blush, we may think of it as an open invitation, for it seems to have that quality to it. In fact, however, it was an invitation of the more targeted variety. 

Jesus said, “Come to me, all who are weary and heavy-laden.”

That has the feel of an open invitation inasmuch as we sense that no one would be turned away. Seventeen hundred years ago, Cyril of Alexandria offered an interesting insight into the folks who were weary and the ones who were heavy-laden. “Jesus called everyone, not only the peo…