In the web of life woven by God’s hand, there is a thread often overlooked yet vital to the entire design—Rest. The Book of Ecclesiastes 3:1, reminds us that “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.” Among these divinely appointed times, we find a crucial call: A Time to Rest.
In our frenetic world, where the cacophony of demands and distractions threatens to drown out the whispers of our spirits, the call to rest echoes with renewed urgency. The Lord, in His infinite wisdom, recognized this need when He beckoned His disciples, “Come away and rest awhile.” (Mark 6:31). This wasn’t a mere suggestion, but a command born of love and understanding of our human frailty.
Consider the rhythms of nature, a testament to God’s design. A field left fallow for a season yields a more bountiful harvest when cultivated again. The mighty mango tree in my backyard, after years of faithful fruiting, takes a sabbatical to replenish its strength. These natural cycles serve as lessons, teaching us the sacred art of rest and renewal.
Scripture abounds with cautionary tales of those who neglected this divine principle. King David, the man after God’s own heart, faltered in his spiritual vigilance and succumbed to temptation. Solomon, endowed with unparalleled wisdom, allowed his heart to be led astray when he took up with a pagan Queen. Even Peter, the rock upon which Christ would build His church, let his guard down, denying Christ when the going got tough.
So, heed the call to rest. It is not an indulgence, but a necessity—a holy obligation to steward the life God has entrusted to you. Our Savior assures us, “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well” (Matthew 6:33). In resting, we reorient our lives to this divine priority.
There are many ways you can be at rest, but I offer a few practical examples:
- Daily Meditation: Carve out moments each day for quiet reflection and communion with the word of God.
2. Mindful Living: Practice the presence of God each day, finding rest in His constant companionship.
In our culture’s relentless pursuit of success, we must remember that true fulfillment is to be found found, not in achievements, but in alignment with God’s will. The practices of meditation and mindfulness are powerful tools for experiencing a calm and fruitful life in the midst of chaos. Rest is the grantor of God’s peace that “transcends all understanding” (Philippians 4:7).
As you embrace the call of sacred rest, may you discover the truth that lies in stillness, and the profound love of God’s voice within. Learn from the mango tree, from the fallow field, from our Lord Himself, that times of rest are not pauses in our productivity, but the very source of our fruitfulness.
Do not fear to take time to rest. Take the day off. Spend quality time with friends and family. You will find that these times are not a waste of time at all. They are times of renewal. In doing so, you honor God who rested on the seventh day and called it Holy.
May your times of rest be a sweet offering to the Lord, a testament to your trust in His providence, and a wellspring of renewed hope in His kingdom.
—Fr. Hugh Duffy, Ph.D.
6 Comments
Tom Walsh
Thank you Fr. Hugh. I needed to read this. Very reassuring and beneficial for me today. I had a very trying morning and I needed to extract myself from a situation and spend time on my own to regain my peace. Which I did and then going through my emails I came upon your post. Thank you once again. Regards. Tom
Hugh Duffy
Glad you found time to relax amidst the emails, Tom. Many people would like to meditate, they tell me, but don’t know how to turn their minds off. That’s why I wrote a book of meditations to help them do this.
Dr. G. Heath King
While the oak is the national tree of America symbolizing its strength, If we were to have a tree to symbolize its survival through high intensity flames I would name the pine.
There is one of biblical origin called the Methuselah for its resilience and longevity through centuries and millennia.
Dr. G. Heath King
There is another called the lodgepole pine that stores thousands of seeds which yield their
potential only in the presence of fire. One might say the pivotal spiritual wildfires like those that again beset our nation.
Bartholomew Okere
Fr. Duffy, your catechetical exegesis on Eccl 3;1 and the words of God at the end of creation resonates with me from your choice of the theme, “A Time to Rest”. It’s one thing to say, but hard to practice looking at the workaholistic nature of man. Most people preferred working to death than to take a day off as you proposed. Me included. Your discourse will help me to practice more days off. Tx
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