In the Gospel this weekend, Jesus urges us to rest. This instruction is timely given that summer is here and the fine weather is upon us. But we note that the rest Jesus is talking about is not just leisure time or time to do nothing. In the Bible, rest is associated with times of prayer and worship. The sabbath as a day of rest was given to us by God, not for his sake but for ours. It was a day of rest from work so that the people could be free for worship and prayer. Worship and prayer connect us to God in whom we rest as we allow our souls to catch up with the rest of us in this busy world. I hope you have a good rest this summer as you deserve. We all need it. Even God rested after his work of creation which gives rest a divine dimension (Gen. 2: 2-4). If we go without the rest our bodies need then the health of our bodies will suffer. If our souls go without the rest they need they too will begin to break apart. I recently saw a Road Safety warning on a billboard that said: ‘Tiredness kills’. Yes, tiredness can kill not just the body but the soul if it does not rest in God. May every area of our lives rest in Him and be refreshed.
Fr Billy Swan