We are called, in the paraphrased words of St. Teresa of Avila, to be the body of Christ to the world:
Christ has no body but yours,
No hands, no feet on earth but yours,
Yours are the eyes with which he looks
Compassion on this world,
Yours are the feet with which he walks to do good,
Yours are the hands, with which he blesses all the world.
In Matthew’s gospel, Jesus issues an invitation that reverberates down through the ages: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28) Jesus doesn’t promise to take away the hard work of our lives. He never says we will always be healthy or happy or that following him will be easy. He prepares us for quite the contrary, actually. But he promises rest and relief for those who have the courage to walk in his way and the faith to bring their burdens and weaknesses to him in prayer.
When we place ourselves in the service of others and nearly collapse at the end of the day, it is Jesus’ tired arms and legs that fall into our beds. When we work as Christ for those around us, we can know that our labor will never be in vain and the effect of our work will be blessed and multiplied by the divine energy that pervades and transforms our efforts. And perhaps best of all, we are promised rest at the end of the day in the loving arms of God.
Ask yourself in silence: Do I let myself just rest in God once in a while?
Today’s reflection is for some of my friends and a bunch of teenagers from our church who are back in Nicaragua working hard this week at Amigos for Christ. But believe me, they rest well at night in the arms of God…
Just what I needed to hear to-day – Thank you Steve
Thank you, Steve. One of my sisters in law has a motto: I can rest when I’m dead…and she does get a lot more done in a day than I do. I have always had trouble going to sleep and I always thought it was because I was afraid I would miss something. But in a sermon I heard Sunday, which was on praying the Lord’s Prayer, the preacher mentioned that one of the first prayers we memorized as children was probably ( at least for non-Catholics) the one that has the line, ” if I should die before I wake..” Which should be enough to keep all of us wide awake. So I am thankful for this meditation on resting in God. Going to take the thought to bed tonight…soon.
God works that way, Lysiane. Just when we need something, there it is…
Hope you are well-rested, JL. It was so good to spend some time with you this week. And for the record, that prayer always scared me, too!
This brought tears to my eyes today, Steve. Recently, after having another health set back, things were improving, only to receive information to the contrary. In my frustration, as I wept in the shower of all places! And more or less, was shouting to God, “what more do you want of me!” Deep within I heard the words, “Rest in me!” To that I responded out loud, “Rest in you? That’s all?” Again, I heard those words even louder in my soul, “Rest in me!” The peace that suddenly was there was so profound, I actually starting laughing! I surely had not been resting in Him. I had been chasing the wind, trying to control what I had no control over. Things are improving, by the grace of God. And not only am I grateful, but am trying to catch myself more readily, when coping with some of the overwhelming things we all face at one time or another, and remember to just rest in Him, even for a moment.
This series is wonderful, Steve, thank you.
How is little Noah doing?
God bless.
Kathleen