In our Epiphany look at the Way of Love disciplines of Go, Bless, Worship, Pray, Turn, Learn,
we come to the last one: Rest. Perhaps it should really be the first one.
During Advent, some of us used planner pages to take on one of the disciplines
each day, and Saturday was the day designated to Rest from the week; and prepare for Worship on Sunday.
There are different kinds of rest. What do you think
of when you hear ‘rest’? Taking a nap? Reading a book? Sitting and doing nothing?
Being free from stress? Feeling warm and cozy? Sitting in the sunshine?
Creating or baking something? Being on vacation? Singing or listening to music? For me, vistas like the one below, call me to pause and remember that God is in charge!
I like to look up word origins. Rest comes from the “Old
English ræst, from a Germanic root meaning ‘league’ or ‘mile’ (referring to a
distance after which one rests)”. Isn’t it interesting that you Rest
after having traveled a certain distance, reached a certain spot, (or even come
to a specified place in music)? We do our tasks and then we Rest.
The Rest
gives us strength to go on again.
In the Gospel reading for this Sunday (Luke 6:17-26), the people flock to Jesus. They are seeking consolation and healing, a reprieve from the daily struggles. They are seeking Rest. Jesus has just been with his disciples, praying and designating the 12 apostles. (Luke 6:12-16) Then he comes and “stood on a level place, with a great crowd of his disciples and a great multitude of people from all Judea, Jerusalem, and the coast of Tyre and Sidon. They had come to hear him and to be healed of their diseases; and those who were troubled with unclean spirits were cured.”
In the Gospel reading for this Sunday (Luke 6:17-26), the people flock to Jesus. They are seeking consolation and healing, a reprieve from the daily struggles. They are seeking Rest. Jesus has just been with his disciples, praying and designating the 12 apostles. (Luke 6:12-16) Then he comes and “stood on a level place, with a great crowd of his disciples and a great multitude of people from all Judea, Jerusalem, and the coast of Tyre and Sidon. They had come to hear him and to be healed of their diseases; and those who were troubled with unclean spirits were cured.”
The Rest Jesus expounds is not a time of
doing nothing. It is a time to take
stock and renew. “[Jesus}…said: “Blessed
are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed are you who are
hungry now, for you will be filled. Blessed are you who weep now, for you will
laugh. Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude you, revile
you, and defame you on account of the Son of Man. Rejoice in that day and leap
for joy, for surely your reward is great in heaven; for that is what their
ancestors did to the prophets."
Jesus tells his disciples, and those gathered around, that
the sorrows and concerns of this life are fleeting. They can rest
in the assurance that better things are coming. In the Letter to the Romans,
Paul notes, “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing
with the glory that will be revealed in us.” (Romans 8:18)
Jesus goes on with some warnings to those who think they
‘have it made’, “But woe to you who are
rich, for you have received your consolation. Woe to you who are full now, for
you will be hungry. Woe to you who are laughing now, for you will mourn and
weep. Woe to you when all speak well of you, for that is what their ancestors
did to the false prophets."
Rest is both active and passive. We reach a spot in our faith journey where we need to pause, review,
and be renewed. Then we are called to move on. We may feel poor, hungry,
sad, or just tired. As Jesus tells the crowds, ‘you will be filled’, ‘you will
laugh’, you will ‘leap for joy’. The time of Rest refreshes our bodies
and souls so we can continue along the road of life.
When we rest in the Lord, we are empowered
to respond with love to the cares and concerns of the world. Throughout the
Bible, we find verses that encourage us to Rest with God. The Book of Genesis
tells us that God ‘rested on the seventh day’ (Genesis 2:3). When Moses receives
the Ten Commandments, keeping Sabbath rest was one of them (Exodus 34:21).
Jesus calls for us to ‘come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I
will give you rest.’ (Matthew 11:28) Isaiah promises, ‘In returning and rest
you shall be saved; in quietness and confidence shall be your strength.’
(Isaiah 30:15). Many of the Psalms refer to rest, including Psalm
46:10 which says, ‘Be still (rest), and know that I am God.’
Take a minute to define Rest. What is your favorite way to Rest?
Find a Bible verse that talks about Rest and return to it
this week during your quiet time. Perhaps commit it to memory or write it on a
card to keep with you.
Write the word Rest in the middle of a
page. Decorate it with pictures of that symbolize Rest to you, or draw and
embellish it with your own art.