2 Samuel 7:1-14a,
Psalm 80:20-29, Ephesians 2:11-22, Mark 6:30-34,
53-56
“Come away to a deserted place
all by yourselves and rest a while.”[1]
I wonder how the disciples reacted
when Jesus said this to them. Were they
thinking “Ah, finally we get to have some rest” or “Are you kidding Jesus,
there is so much work to be done, we can’t rest now” or maybe even “We’d love
to rest, but there isn’t a place where we can go to rest.”
Up until this point in the gospel of
Mark, Jesus and his disciples have been doing a lot of traveling and
teaching. The more they travel, the more
crowds of people are looking for them.
Jesus, along with his disciples, is becoming so famous because of the
healings and miracles that he performs while they travel. All of this traveling and constant pressure
from the large crowds of people is starting to wear on the disciples. Jesus recognizes this and suggests to them
that they rest for a while.
But as our gospel from today says,
the disciples did not get to rest yet, because as soon as they reach the shore
there is yet another crowd gathered for their arrival.
Rest will come for the disciples, in a while, but for now
they must continue to help Jesus with his ministry.
I wonder how each of us would react
if Jesus told us to “Come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest a
while.”[2] Would we say “Thank you for the invitation,
I’d love to rest for a while” or “Sure Jesus, that is a nice idea, but I don’t
have time for that right now” or maybe “I’d love to but there is so much work
to be done, I can’t rest now.”
In today’s society we are always on
the move. Always going the extra mile at
work, always providing opportunities for new experiences for our children,
always busy.
I was struck this past week by a
study out of UCLA, reported in the Boston Globe, observing the typical
week of thirty-two middle class families in the Los Angeles area. The idea was
to take a detailed snapshot of American family life early in the 21st century.
The results, according to one researcher, were "disheartening." Those
who were studied were so consumed with working, collecting, amassing, and
generally "getting ahead," that they actually spent very little time
together enjoying what they were working for.[3]
While this study took place in Los
Angeles, I bet that researchers would find similar results here in
Phoenix. Please don’t misunderstand me,
I am not saying that working hard to provide for your family is a bad thing; I
am just saying that, as this study pointed out, we spend more time working for
things than we do enjoying those things.
Think back to the first story of
creation found in Genesis. God creates
everything in the world in six days, and on the seventh day, God rests. God has been setting the example of rest for
us since the beginning of time. Later
when Moses relays the 10 Commandments to the people of Israel, keeping the
Sabbath holy is part of it. This would
have been music to the ears of the Israelites because they have just left their
bondage in Egypt. And now in today’s
gospel we hear Jesus inviting the disciples, and us, to rest.
Rest can come in many different
forms. I am not going to innumerate all
of the ways in which one can rest, because only you can know what is restful
and renewing to you. For me, I find rest
in napping, talking in small groups of people, walking outdoors, and having
quiet time with God.
Most days
my quiet time with God is right when I get up.
Some days it is only a brief amount of time, other days I find myself
running late for other things because I have had a long amount of quiet time
with God. God doesn't require a "clocked" amount of time, God just
requires some time. God knows you are busy, yet you still found time for God in
your day. That was all that is required.
For some in
this community finding quiet time to yourself is not a reality at this point in
your life, especially for those with little ones. To those who feel that this is where they
are, I ask you to look for God’s presence through the noisy, rough and tumble
parts of your day. God is in, with and
around us all of the time, so God is certainly with you in the chaotic moments
as much as God is with you in the quiet moments.
God calls us to live an abundant life.
An abundant life doesn't consist of
merely more and more and more.
"Abundant" ultimately isn't a quantitative term but a
qualitative one. So what can you do to
live into this abundant life, which includes abundant rest, that God wants for
us. Perhaps you can take a walk with a
friend or spouse, play a game with a child or neighbor, take some time to
unplug from all the various screens you interact with daily, have some time to
sit, alone or with others to contemplate your blessings and abundance so that
you may feel content and grateful for the abundant life you lead.
So this week, and hopefully well
into the future, I invite you to…
Rest. Take a break from all the bustle and activity. Rest.
Have a chance to renew, to stop, to slow. Rest. Let there be an end of work, if
only for a little while. Rest. Take an opportunity to stop doing, that you may
simply be. Rest.
In closing I would like to share a
prayer[4] with you. Breaths are incorporated
into this prayer as a means to help us slow down and clear away the
distractions that keep us from deep communion with God. Take a deep breath,
hold it for a few seconds, and let it out slowly.
Breathe in… Breathe out…
Jesus
Lord of the Sabbath
Prince of Peace
You invite me to come away with you and rest a while
Breathe in… Breathe out…
My world is so fast
So noisy
So needy
So full
Help me rest
Breathe in… Breathe out…
Reveal the fears that drive me
Free me from false pressures and priorities
Renew a right spirit within me
Breathe in… Breathe out…
Cover me with your healing wings
Surround me with your refuge and grace
Fill me with your peace and hope and home
Till my being finds complete rest in you
Breathe in… Breathe out…
Find rest in God’s presence…
Amen.
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