Rest

2nd Week of Advent - Wednesday (12 December 2018)

Isaiah 40:25-31. Psalm 103:1-4,8,10. Matthew 11:28-30.

“Young people may grow tired and weary, youths may stumble, but those who hope in the Lord renew their strength and put out wings like eagles.”

Blaise Pascal once said, “All of our miseries ultimately stem from the fact that we cannot sit still in a room for one hour.” We pride ourselves to be human “doings,” more than human “beings.” Instead of trying to deal with ourselves, or changing ourselves, we change the programmes and events around us. We could move from one programme to another, and thus avoid dealing with our own shadows and growth. Instead of accepting the reality of ourselves, very often we try to fill in with more and more material things, or activities. We move from ego achievement to ego achievement, from entertainment to entertainment, excitement to excitement, engagement to engagement, employment to employment. Even our work could become an escapism.

This can point out to a restlessness in us, a restlessness without God, or a restlessness that is seeking God. As Christians, it is imperative that we find our rest in God. Let us remember St Augustine's words, “You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it rests in you.” These words are not for the future, after our death, but for now. We find our rest in God at this present moment.

But if you watch your mind, you will see you live most of your life in the past or in the future. The present always seems boring and not enough. The only way many people know how to motivate themselves is to create problems or to solve problems in their head. Even prayer becomes a problem-solving time. Don’t we use the word “prayer” mostly when we feel that our human limits are reached? Isn’t the word “prayer” more a word to indicate powerlessness rather than a creative contact with the source of life? Prayer is often considered a weakness, a support system.

The only problem that prayer solves is “you!” So if you can be positively present right now, without creating a problem, then that is the moment of rest—that is the moment everything in and around you becomes new. God is available in His full power and strength here at this present moment.

Jesus invites you and me via today's gospel, “Come to me, all you who labour and are overburdened, and I will give you rest.” Our unbridled restlessness can only be healed by resting in God. Our restlessness can be transformed into life-giving action and compassion only in God. And without God our actions cannot become loving, joyful or peaceful.

The following words of Prophet Isaiah from today's first reading are some of the favourite verses for many charismatics.

The Lord is an everlasting God.

He does not grow tired or weary,

his understanding is beyond fathoming.

He gives strength to the wearied,

he strengthens the powerless.

Young people may grow tired and weary,

youths may stumble,

but those who hope in the Lord renew their strength,

they put out wings like eagles.

They run and do not grow weary,

walk and never tire.

We need to sit still, rest and rediscover our strength in the Lord: He will take care of everything in our lives!

For another reflection on the gospel passage, please see, “Come to Me,” https://anthuvanmaria.blogspot.com/2018/07/come-to-me.html.

If you are interested, here is a meditation of Fr Richard Rohr, “Becoming Stillness,” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9TGS-JD80nE.