Today, the Letter to the Hebrews
continues to emphasize on the REST, which God prepared for us. The Israelites of
old missed it because they hardened their hearts against the word of God. The
author began to highlight the importance of this ‘rest’ by saying, “Brethren:
While the promise of entering His rest remains, let us fear lest any of you be
judged to have failed to reach it.” Then the author raised a deep theological
thought: God’s rest was initially numbered on the 7th day, and the
command for us to rest on the Sabbath day was to the glory of God. Later
through their disobedience He said, “They shall never enter my rest.” The REST
here is more than abstaining from work on the Sabbath day; it comes through
obedience to His Word.
Since Jesus is the Word of God, who is present among us, and through whom God speaks to us today, ‘obedience of faith’ to Jesus will bring us to God’s promise of His rest. Imagine the moment of ‘rest’, when the paralytic, carried by four men through the roof, landed at the feet of Jesus! Their determination depicts the kind of persevering obedience we give to Christ Jesus in order to experience divine rest. “When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, ‘Child, your sins are forgiven.’” Surely, hearing those words brought ‘rest’ to their souls but discomfort to the unbelieving Scribes.
Finally, Jesus said to the paralytic, “I say to you, rise, take up your pallet and go home.” At the feet of Jesus is our journey’s end. In His presence, His words and silence bring healing and rest to our souls. Imagine how our endless desires and wounded hearts find peace, if through obedience of faith, our hearts can land at the ‘feet’ of Jesus. Amen.
Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R
Saints Peter & Paul Catholic
Church,
Tedi-Muwo, Lagos.
Friday January 15th,
2021.
www.nwachinwe.blogspot.com
