Rest Awhile
Although all the talk of sheep and shepherds means I’d love to talk about my goats today, and there are at least five different homilies in today’s readings, I haven’t forgotten that I owe you time, so hear this one thing:
Rest awhile – Come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.
We stink at resting. We relax, but with activity or amusements so that relaxation is often busy-ness. Those of us blessed to have a day off from work often fill that day with running errands. We don’t even pretend to make an effort to keep Sunday as a day of rest, working and shopping and “doing” all day. Even churches hold business meetings on Sunday, which really gets my goat.
You know, speaking of getting my goat… do you know where the idiom “get my goat” comes from? We know it means to irritate or annoy us, but where does it come from? One theory is that back in the day, they used goats as companion animals for high-strung horses, or to calm cattle and increase milk production. If someone stole your goat, they… well, they upset your applecart. The oldest story I can find is that Captain Cook had a goat that traveled all around the world with him on his voyages. He was a good shepherd to his flock of sailors, and her milk and presence were part of how he kept his crew healthy and happy. There’s a story that one time some people stole his goat, and felt Cook’s wrath until she was returned.
Anyway… it really gets my goat that we don’t rest, and we don’t allow others to rest. Rest is so important. Jesus himself often went to a deserted place to pray and rest. Today, Jesus calls the twelve to come to a deserted place with him to rest.
So then, how should we rest?
I’ve already suggested that rest is not working and shopping and going to meetings. Rest isn’t constantly stimulating our minds with games and shows. Rest also isn’t doing nothing at all, because I think most of us have experienced the truth of the proverb that an idle mind is the devil’s playground, and idle hands are his workshop. Idleness is doing nothing when there are things to be done. Rest is something we actually do.
So then, what is this rest in today’s gospel? Jesus invited them to rest, so perhaps he gave it to them.
Jesus called them to a deserted, or empty place. It was not the market. It was not the temple. It was not cultivated land where they could watch the crops grow. It was not a festival, a party, or a dinner. It was not a sporting event. They didn’t stay in the boat fishing. They went to a deserted place.
If we want rest, we need to let go of things to make room. We need to allow quietness. We need to be still. We need to make an intentional effort to set aside the things that keep us busy and anxious. That can be difficult.
Jesus also called them to be with each other and with him. They did not each go off into their own deserted place. In the Psalm, the Shepherd leads his flock beside restful waters and in green pastures. He does not lead one sheep or goat alone, he leads the flock. When we are alone, we are vulnerable to intrusive thoughts, to fear, and to focusing on ourselves. But, you might say, Jesus often went off by himself to pray. Yes. Jesus went off to be in communion with the Father and the Holy Spirit. Most of us are not at a level of spiritual maturity where we can go off and be alone with God that way very often or for very long. If you can, great. This time, the disciples were called to rest as a flock.
So, the Twelve went with Jesus to a deserted place for rest. When they arrived, they were greeted by five thousand people. Does that mean their rest was ruined? It’s like planning to go for a hike, and finding a line at the park entrance, or arriving at the lake only to discover there’s a tournament here today. It can really get your goat. So, were Jesus’ plans ruined? Were the Twelve robbed of rest?
Actually, no. What happened? First, Jesus took the active role. He did the work. It says that Jesus took pity on them, like a sheep without a shepherd, and began to teach them many things. We’ll hear next week about how it got late, and the Twelve were witness to the multiplication of the loaves and fish when over five thousand people were fed and were satisfied.
Sometimes we have plans for rest, but we are interrupted. We sit down to pray, but the dogs start barking. We decide to pray the Rosary while we take a walk, but someone stops us to chat. Does this get our goat and make us angry or irritated? If so, then we are not resting… we are trying to control things… which is the opposite of rest.
The disciples thought they knew what was going to happen. Jesus was giving them a break from all the people and the preaching to get some rest alone in the wilderness. But what did they get instead? They witnessed one of the most famous miracles Jesus performed.
And what is more restful than having a first-hand experience that shows us that God is in control, God can do all things, God will do all things, and God cares for us? Because true rest is found in trusting God. True rest is to be still, and know that God is God. Alone or in community, in work or in prayer, true rest is to rest confident that God is in control, God can do all things, and God cares for us.
I encourage you to make more time for rest in your life. Make space by declining to “do things,” especially on Sunday. Pause during the day to offer a brief prayer or praise and even work can be restful. Watch for how God is working, and share what you see with others. Come apart with Jesus and put your stupid phone to good use by listening to Father Mike read the Bible. Come to Church, and just… be here together for a few minutes of adoration on First Fridays. Stay a while and listen. Listen for the voice of Jesus, and follow him to peace and rest.
