Rest with Jesus

16th Sunday of Ordinary Time Year B
Given at St. Patrick's in Wareham
By: Fr. Ron Floyd, P.V.

My brothers and sisters in the Lord Jesus, many people don’t really understand
what it means to be a Christian.

What it means to be a Catholic! They think:
- That being a Catholic means being a “good person”
- That it means following the rules
- That it means lots of prohibitions

In general they think that being a Catholic is hard work! And in a sense it is, because being a Catholic always means being counter-cultural. Even in the best culture there are always things that can be improved and made more perfect.Christians must accept the good but also always work hard to resist and reform the world around them. However in Christ even this can become easy for us if we know and understand what it really means to be a catholic, because being Catholic, being Christan, as the Church was first called in Ephesus means being with Christ.

In the Gospel today Jesus invites his Apostles "Come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while." Jesus understands that the work of being a follower of the Way: The Way the Truth and the Light of Jesus Christ can be tiresome, not because of the burden of our own faith

But because our faith requires us to help lift the burden off the shoulders of our neighbors: friends and enemies alike.. It is the way of the world that is truly difficult characterized as it is by selfishness, greed, and malice.

Its difficult to be a pagan, unbeliever, or even a half-hearted believer, because a life without God, without Christ, is a life dominated by fear and insecurity, which begets frustration, envy anger, and wrath. In contrast Jesus tells us in the Gospel that: my yoke is easy, my burden light!

Being a Christian is not primarily about following rules and regulations

Its not about being “a good person,” its not about fearing God’s wrath and retribution—its primarily about resting in Jesus. Its about being close to Jesus who is both Love and Truth

When we are close to Jesus, as we are whenever we read the scriptures, or pray in his name
and especially when we gather together to offer His Sacrifice of Praise—the Mass.

Jesus shows us the truth about ourselves. He shows us the truth about what is good and the truth about what it means to love and how to do it. If we are active listeners, if we have open ears, and hearts, and minds just the grace of being with Him will be enough to free us from our world of sin and teach us to Love.

This is why St. Augustine can say: Love and do what ever you will. When we truly learn the way of Jesus the way of love—then we don't have to worry about sin because in true love there is no room for sin! Love permits no evil! When we are loved by Jesus, by God, we have nothing more to fear from the world. And so we are free from all its traps.

As St. Paul says: He is our peace, he who made both one and broke down the dividing wall of enmity, through his flesh, abolishing the law with its commandments and legal claims, that he might create in himself one new person in place of the two, thus establishing peace, and might reconcile both with God, in one body, through the cross, putting that enmity to death by it.

If you have ever been around someone who made you feel safe, and want to be a better person, then you have experienced what it means to be a Christian, only with Christ this effect is infinitely more powerful.

As we turn to the Altar then, pray for the grace to be able to rest with Jesus in this great Sacrament. Let Jesus into your heart and let him transform you into another Christ; into a person that make those around them want to be a better persons!

Lord Jesus send down your spirit and renew the face of the Earth.