THROUGH UNTRUE
We live in a world that idolizes the person with an overcrowded schedule, who works long hours and juggles multiple jobs. In contrast, one who is not working or busy is often viewed as lazy, sick, or a bum.
However, being perpetually busy and preoccupied with work can have significant downsides. Our bodies and minds are not designed to operate continuously at maximum capacity. They require regular periods of rest to recharge and rejuvenate. Neglecting this fundamental need leads to physical exhaustion, burnout, and a decline in mental and spiritual well-being. Rest is not a luxury but an essential component of a healthy and balanced life.
Rest is a fundamental concept that we read in the Bible: "God rested from all His work on the seventh day, so He blessed and sanctified it" (Genesis 2:3). Rest is not merely a pause from labor but an integral aspect of God's creative work. Since we are made in His image, we can rightly conclude He wove rest into our very DNA. Other religious traditions, like Hinduism and Buddhism echo this thought. They teach that the ultimate goal of life is a state of rest or liberation from the cycle of continuous working and striving.
Work is not our destiny. Our true calling is to live unburdened by deadlines and bottom lines. Arduous labor is, in fact, a curse resulting from sin. God told Adam: "You will derive food for your sustenance all the days of your life through painful toil" (Genesis 3:17). This human condition is poignantly expressed in a poet’s lament: “What is this life if, full of care, we have no time to stand and stare?”
What sets us apart from other animals is our ability to transcend the physical limitations of being human. While fish are confined to swimming and birds to flying, we can travel across the world without the need to walk, fly, or swim.
Today, we have innovative means of transportation that allow us to cross the seas faster than fish and soar higher than birds. With the intellect and willpower bestowed upon us by God, we have freed ourselves from the burdens of working and enjoy the benefits of a peaceful and restful existence.
This is why today's Gospel reading is more relevant than ever. We read: "So many people were coming and going that the disciples did not even have a chance to eat. So, Jesus said to them, 'Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and rest a while'" (Mark 6:31). In a similar passage, Jesus offers comfort to us who are saddled by back-breaking labor: "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28).
However, Jesus's invitation to rest goes beyond mere physical rest. Rest includes spiritual renewal. When we are too busy working, it is easy to lose sight of the need to develop a deeper spiritual connection with God. By inviting us to withdraw to a quiet place, Jesus provides us with an opportunity to reconnect with God, pray, and be assured that God can do things infinitely better than we can. Oftentimes, our desire to be self-sufficient makes us ignore God's presence in our life.
Some of the greatest scientific discoveries and artistic masterpieces have emerged from moments of rest and contemplation. Rest is not a hindrance to productivity but rather a vital component of the creative process. Today is Sunday. Take time out from your busy schedule and experience life differently. Life is short. Don't make it shorter.