Rest… A break from all the bustle and activity. Rest…A chance to renew, to stop, to slow. Rest… And end of work, if only for a little while. Rest…An opportunity to stop doing that you may simply be. Rest…What a beautiful word!
Jesus' simple invitation in Mark 6:30-34 to "Come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest awhile" is not just an invitation to take an afternoon off or go on vacation -- though those may be important elements -- this is an invitation to loosen our shackles and climb out of the cages we've constructed from a culturally-fed belief that more is the ticket to happiness and that work is the ticket to more.
Maybe that's the key thing about rest and our Scripture discussion and reflection? They provide a chance to step back from all the things that usually consume us so that we might experience God's presence and a sense of contentment and give thanks.
Jesus wants us to rest. He wants us to recognize the “trap” we call success and the rat race we call modern life. He wants us to reflect on how much time we really spend together and actually enjoy the things we’ve worked so hard to attain.
God wants us to live an abundant life. Abundant life doesn't consist of merely more and more. "Abundant" ultimately isn't a quantitative term but a qualitative one. How do we begin? Maybe we might consider just one evening when we will shut down our computer, or turn off our cell phones or, say no to one obligation or appointment. After all, it’s summertime and the living is easy.
Rest is important, but notice Jesus doesn't get any because he is doing the work of the Kingdom, Too bad the Revised Common Lectionary (which goes to verse 56) skips over the walking on water and feeding the 5,000. As Mark wrote it, we have a very strong lesson on discipleship. In the beginning of today's reading the apostles are coming back from mission, doing what Jesus has been doing, But then they falter, when Jesus goes through Genessaret, the apostles leave all the healing to him. In the boat they were again terrified (with hardened hearts). They feel helpless to use the food they have to feed the crowd (Jesus did it). The point, I think, is that Jesus invites disciples to become apostles, bearing the message of the Kingdom by word and deed, as he did. He avoids being called Messiah because Messiah was expected to step in and solve all the problems for the people. Jesus says "God is with you. You can do it."
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