He Gives Rest to the Weary

Looking back over the past twelve months there has been in the world, in the Church, and in many families a season of unrest. The problem with unrest in the world is that it comes right into our living rooms with the evening news. Day by day we struggle with news from Iraq; the instability and treacherousness of that environment, the death of good men and women, and the shame of a few. In the Church we are seeing the ever-widening split within the Anglican Communion, the rift with the Episcopal Church, and the resulting instability that results from the deliberate course of action taken by the last General Convention. Many of us wish it would all just go away, but it won't and we wait for the Eames Commission report to the Archbishop of Canterbury to see how the structure of the Anglican Communion will be affected. Our families struggle with the effect of the economy over the past two years, with rising gas prices and interior stresses within the families themselves. In general people seem more harried, more stressed than usual. Through it all we look for rest; rest from the world, rest from the conflict within the Anglican Communion, and rest within our families.

That we have rest is one of the concerns of God who established the Sabbath that we might rest from our labors and in many places in Holy Scripture offers His people rest. One thing is clear. We cannot find rest doing what people normally do. God has His own prescription for rest. He says, "Thus says the LORD: "Stand by the roads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is; and walk in it, and find rest for your souls" (Jeremiah 6:16 ESV). In order to find rest we have to dig deeper than the evening news. Rest won't be found in new innovations philosophical, psychological, or theological. God bids us look for the ancient paths if we would find rest. Those ancient paths can be found in Holy Scripture, in tradition and in The Book of Common Prayer. The ancient paths have been well trodden for centuries for a reason. They are time tested and true. God is always faithful and he never changes. "Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change" (James 1:16-17). Where there is stability there is rest.

Jesus also extends to us an offer of rest. He says, "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light" (Matthew 11:28-30 ESV). The invitation of Jesus to you is warm and personal. He desires you to come to Him that you might find rest. Come in prayer, in worship, and in adoration. If you would find rest, take time to make Jesus the center of your life and let your mind be guided by His Presence, the Word of God, and prayer. Rest doesn't happen accidentally. Rest requires a decision and a subsequent action. One must not only want rest, one must actively move into rest. Set aside time each day to pray, to be quiet, to read His word and to meditate. If you are traveling go to church wherever you are. If you are home don't miss Saturday evening, or Sunday morning services. It is part of the rest that your Lord provides for you. As summer schedules change take time to be with your Lord.

~ Father Rob +

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