Coming Into The Rest Of God

09-07-2017 HOMILY FOR THE 14TH SUNDAY OF ORDINARY TIME-YEAR A

SCRIPTURAL READING:

1. Zech.9:9-10

Ps. 145:1-2.8-9.10-11.13cd.14 (R. 1)

1. Romans 8:9.11-13; Accl; Matt. 11:25.
2. Gospel Matthew 11:25-30.

Preamble:

Please dear friends I would like you to repeat these words after me;

Lord Jesus, Lord Jesus, I give my heart, help me welcome you.

Lord Jesus, I give you my ears, help me hear your voice,

Lord Jesus, I give you my mind, help me understand.

Holy Spirit rekindle in me the fire of your love. Amen.

THEME: COMING INTO THE REST OF GOD.

Great spiritual teachers tell us that to enter into the rest of God means coming into fullness of joy, peace and satisfaction. To attain this, one must constantly journey towards God. The Christian faith is a journey towards God for only in him can our hearts find rest. When such journey is made in response to the invitation of Jesus in today’s gospel one is said to have truly comes to rest in God.

St. Augustine describes his experience of coming to the rest of God when he says-“Ask the beauty of the earth, the beauty of the sea, the beauty of the sky. Question the order of the stars, the sun whose brightness lights the day, the moon whose splendor softens the gloom of night. Ask of the living creatures that move in the waves, that roam the earth, that fly in the heavens.”

Question all these and they answer, ‘Yes, we are beautiful.’ Their very loveliness is their confession of God: for who made these lovely mutuable things, but he who is himself unchangeable beauty?

Too late have I loved you, O beauty ever ancient ever new, too late have I loved you.

I sought for you abroad, but you were within me though I was far from you. Then you touched me, and I longed for your peace, and now all my hope is only in your great mercy.

Give what you command and then command what you will. You have made us for yourself, and our heart is restless till it rests in you. Who will grant me to rest content in you? To whom shall I turn for the gift of your coming into my heart so that I may forget all the wrong I have done, and embrace you alone, my only good.

Augustine continues by talking about the kind of prayer we make; he says- a man calls on God that he may not be put to confusion. Is it so that the adultery he intends may come off? That someone he hopes to inherit from may die? That a piece of sharp practice may succeed? This is not to call on God, but on one’s own evil desires.

To call on God is to invite him into your heart: but will you dare to invite so great a father when you have no dwelling fit for him? Your heart is full of evil desires, and yet you invite him in.

If you call on God, let it not be to ask for anything. For when you call upon God for aid the call you make is for him to come into yourself. What place is there into which your Lord and God can come, what place fit for the God who made heaven and earth? Is it a small thing that God himself should fill you?

If he comes without silver and gold, do you not want him? Which of the things he has made can satisfy you, if God himself does not?

Friends in Christ, can we come to rest when our hearts are troubled and we seek to handle it our own way? When you pray do you find yourself struggling, when you go about your work, do you do it with ease? Are you at peace in your family, in your home, with your husband, with your wife, with your children, with the condition of the family, with your working condition, with your status, with yourself, with life? are you unsatisfied with life and your state now? What may have caused?

If the answer is no-it then means there is a load within you that needs to be taken off! What process have you employed to be at rest?

Have you resigned to fate or you keep making an effort to do the needful in order to bounce back? Do you think consulting mediums and engaging in diabolic practices and other vices will guarantee you that rest?

If the answer is yes but you know in your heart the answer is no? it then means you are deceiving yourself! Those who pretend are never true and sincere. The claim to be wise and here is the message of the gospel for such persons-“the wise and understanding of this world, that is, those who rely on their own judgment, cannot accept the revelation which Christ has brought us. Supernatural outlook is always connected with humility. A humble person, who gives himself little importance, sees; a person who is full of self-esteem fails to perceive supernatural things.”

Friends, there is only one way that is sure to lead us to that rest in God and that is by heeding the invitation of the Lord-come to me, all who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

This statement of Jesus is not factual statement which has proven the taste of time. You will keep struggling if you don’t go to the Lord. If you don’t create a space for the Lord, you will keep struggling and be unhappy, but the moment you heed this call, joy, peace and true satisfaction will return to your soul. Once the soul is healthy, the body will be healthy and freshness and vitality will spring forth. The only person that can give this is God.

The rest does not mean idleness or laziness or been in a state of inactivity as it perceived. It means drawing up strength and inspiration to forge ahead in life even in the storms and afflictions of life from the word of God,- for the word of God gives power to move on, reveals the truth, brings justice, deliverance and brings reassurance to you.

Coming to the rest of God is making God primary and not secondary in your life. When we make God primary, we will learn something new daily for the Lord is always doing new things in the life of his children. Leaning from the Lord is to carefully study his life, live and labour under his leadership, direction and guidance and care.

Coming to the rest of God means beginning your day with the Lord, in order to gain a new energy for the day, a new idea for work, and a strengthened purpose.

Coming to the rest of God means praying about everything the much you have talked about it. It means seeking his direction before embarking on any project, praying even while you are doing that project and after the project.

Coming to the rest of God means creating time to be alone with God for it is always fruitful and refreshing.

Friends do not be deceived, no one can give you true peace-don’t say oh since I met this person or have this job I am at peace, such peace is ends in misery because it not well channeled; it raises a lot of question, anxiety, and mental confusion within you. The only one who can give you peace is the God whom you serve so honour his invitation today and leave the rest to him.

I pray this day that we may discover true peace in God and find reasons to always honour his invitation in life in the name of Jesus. Amen.