Finding Rest in the Lord
Man’s search for fulfillment has led him to explore several options – various philosophies and religions, wealth, fame, education, professions, occupations, relationships, even vices and bad habits. Oftentimes, however, nothing seems to completely satisfy. The more he attains and accomplishes, the more he feels the need to fill the void that the world seems not able to supply, and not even define. Man runs towards his elusive goal, but cannot reach it. He always searches for meaning, but cannot find it. Consequently, he feels frustrated, empty and tired.
In this Sunday’s gospel (Matthew 11:25-30), Jesus reveals to us the secret to this real and lasting rest. The wise and the intelligent of this world failed to decipher this secret, but Jesus chose to make it plain and simple to those with childlike faith. The secret is to come to him, who is the source of genuine peace and rest. In verses 2830 he said, “Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” True rest is found not in any magical formula or fad, not in any person or material thing, and not in any personal gain or achievement. True rest is found in God alone.
Why? Because he controls everything. St. Paul writes, “God put this power to work in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the age to come. And he has put all things under his feet and has made him the head over all things for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all” (Ephesians 1:20-23). Elsewhere, he also wrote, “If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not withhold his own Son, but gave him up for all of us, will he not with him also give us everything else (Romans 8: 31-32)?
To be away from Jesus is to make one vulnerable to all kinds of stresses and strain, even sin and punishment. On the other hand, to be connected with Jesus in a loving relationship clothes one with the power of the Almighty God. Speaking mainly of salvation, Jesus said, “Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Those who believe in him are not condemned; but those who do not believe are condemned already, because they have not believed in the name of the only Son of God” (John 3:1718) .
Trials and tribulations will always be part of this fallen world. We only need to look at the difficulties brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic. But we who hold on to Jesus enjoy inexplicable peace and calm even at the height of the storm, for God’s enduring love sustains us.
Romans 8:35-39 provides us timely inspiration along this line, “Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will hardship, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, ‘For your sake we are
being killed all day long; we are accounted as sheep to be slaughtered.’No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”