Rest Awhile

Specific Objectives

At the end of the session, the assembly the participants are expected to:

1. Realize God is calling us to find rest in Him

2. Value the moments in their lives that God use to give them rest

3. Commit to taking care of their well-being so that they can continuously serve God.

Expanded Outline

I. Introduction

If there is one word that best describes all of us after serving in a community event or serving in a CLS or LCS, what would it be? Probably, we would all answer with this word - TIRED. Yes, we are happy, fulfilled, and inspired but physically, we are tried. We need to admit that we too can get tired. That is a fact. It is not a question if we can get tired but more of why do we get tired. In our assembly today, God would like us to reflect on that question and find our answers in Him.

II. Spiritually Filled, Physically Tired

When you read the Gospels, you will see that even the disciples of Jesus have experienced being physically tired despite being happy, filled and inspired after they were sent to proclaim the Good News and do the mission. St. Mark even wrote about it:

“The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught. Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place. But many who saw them leaving recognized them and ran on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them. When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So, he began teaching them many things.” Mark 6:30-34

If we invest our whole heart, mind, soul, and strength to the work of the Lord, chances are, we will get physically tired. Unfortunately, for some of us, we don’t just experience physical tiredness. Some of us even experience being tired emotionally, mentally, and at times spiritually. Why do these things happen to us?

Well, if you we a real disciple of the Lord just like in the gospel, it is bound to happen. Why? Because a disciple of Jesus will give their all to respond to God’s call to serve Him through the Church and through the community. Aside from that, we are called to be faithful to our vocation as spouses and parents then we will definitely get a feeling of tiredness.

But we don’t need to get discouraged or even give up every time we get that feeling because Jesus understands how we feel. Is it not He who invited us to, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.“ (Mt. 11:28)?

So, for us who are experiencing tiredness from all our services and from all our challenges in life, Jesus is inviting us to rest awhile with Him.

A. Rest Awhile

“Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and rest awhile.” Mk. 6:31

Jesus’ invitation is to rest awhile means to rest for a short time - only a while so that we can be re-energize and process our experiences and realize to give thanks to God and then go back to the mission.

It is important that we take his invitation because if we allow ourselves to linger in our tiredness, Satan can easily tempt us. When we are tired, we became too weak to resist the evil one, that is why we need to rest.

When we rest, we need to rest in Christ because He is the only one who can replenish and strengthen us. That is why He is asking us to be alone with Him. He is asking us to be quiet in Him. He is inviting us because He knew how much we toil and labor for Him. He is inviting us because He knew that we need rest.

B. Taking A Rest

Since we now realize how important it is to rest awhile in Christ, the next thing we need to know is how to do it. Here are some pointers:

1. Find a Deserted Place

We all need to have a person, a place, a thing, or an activity that gives us peace and brings us rest. If we still don’t know who, where, or what they are, we need to discover them. Let us find them so that through them, God can restore and make us whole again.

2. Make Time for Rest

We need to make time and not find time to rest. Finding the time for rest means we will never find it. Making time for rest means putting deliberate effort to it. If we are physically tired right now, then take a break and make time for our body to rest. If we are mentally tired right now, then take a break and make time to loosen up your mind. If we are emotionally tired right now, then take a break and make time to be in God’s presence and allow Him to fill us with His love. If we are spiritually tired right now, then take a break and make time to the Lord so that our souls can find rest in Him.

3. Be Mindful of Your Tiredness

We also need to be aware of the reasons why we are tired. Let us evaluate ourselves and see what makes us tired It is important that we know because if we get tired because of things that do not contribute to our personal or spiritual growth, then we are getting tired because of nothing. If we get tired because we are doing things that are not beneficial to our family, community, and the Church then, we are getting tired because of nothing. There is something wrong if we are getting tired of doing things without any purpose. So let us spend our strength wisely and make our effort worthy of the Lord’s invitation to rest.

4. Always be Merciful

“So, they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place. But many who saw them leaving recognized them and ran on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them. When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So, he began teaching them many things.” - Mark 6:32-34

Let us be merciful when we are taking our rest. Jesus and his disciples despite being tired and taking time to rest was still merciful. Despite being tired, Jesus did not turn the people away. Despite being tired, Jesus did not snap back at them. Despite being tired, Jesus did not ignore them. He showed mercy towards them and tried to understand their needs. He ministered to them and took care of them. We need to remember that mercy trumps rest!

Let us take Jesus’ invitation to rest awhile. Let us make that decision to take a rest in Him. Let us make a deliberate effort and make time to rest

III. Conclusion

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.“ (Mt. 11:28).

Jesus’s invitation is real. He is the one who called you to rest awhile. He is the one who wants to restore you. Let us take his invitation and be renewed in Him. Let us take His invitation so that we can be ready again to respond to the mission and be used by God to show his love and mercy to the world.

Group Discussion

1. How are you right now? Are you tired physically, mentally, emotionally, or spiritually?

2. Have you been to your deserted place to rest awhile?