Rest a While

7/19/2024

Rest a While

Hi Everyone!

We often yearn for rest and it makes plenty of sense. Without proper rest, we are unable to work efficiently or have a clear head to make important decisions. A lifestyle that is too busy can lead to exhaustion and anxiety. I know this is common sense, but I only mention it because Jesus also understood the importance of rest when it comes to discipleship.

In this Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus directly tells his Apostles to rest. With the great success of their ministry, and with hoards of people who have become interested in Jesus and his message, Jesus doesn’t ask his Apostles to work overtime, but rather, he asks them to rest.

Why would he tell them to rest after such great success? Why wouldn’t Jesus ask the Apostles to take advantage of the opportunity to save more souls, while interest is at an all-time high? I think the answer to these questions is quite simple. We need to be nourished to help feed others and rest in the Lord is necessary to continue our mission.

Jesus and his Apostles may not have gotten a lot of rest in this passage, but they did get some. And I assume that the little rest that they received helped them to thrive in their ministry and boost their energy. Our God knows us, His apostles, so well, and he knows that they need to be nourished to spread the good news. He is not reckless. He cares for those who He commissioned.

This is no different for us. Rest in crucial when it comes to discipleship. Burnout can be a factor when it comes to bringing people to God. Whether the burnout is from work, family or current events, it is absolutely necessary for us to create time to rest in the presence of our God.