Using That Word

Understanding what Jesus means by rest and peace

12/12/2024

Mt 11:28-30 Jesus said to the crowds: "Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves. For my yoke is easy, and my burden light."

One of my favorite movies growing up was “The Princess Bride.” And I enjoy watching it even now as an adult. One of the villains in the movie named Vizzini – who abducts the princess bride – had a habit of repeating the word “inconceivable.” Inconceivable! Inconceivable!

At one point in the movie, one of his friends named Inigo Montoya calls Vizzini out about his excessive use of that one word. And he says to him, “You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.” That is a sample of the movie’s subtle but sophisticated humor.

Today if Inigo Montoya had been at morning Mass, and had heard Jesus speaking in the gospel, he might have leveled the same criticism against our Lord. Jesus says: “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest.” And again, Jesus says: “You will find rest for yourselves.”

Well, Inigo Montoya could rightly have said, “You keep using that word, rest, but I do not think it means what you think it means.” And in a sense, Inigo Montoya would be right, but not because Jesus does not know what rest means, but because we do not know what real rest means. What do I mean?

Well, first of all, Jesus does not mean rest and peace like we think of rest as a nice vacation on the beach. Jesus is not referring to some “R and R”, rest and relaxation. Don’t forget what Jesus said in Mt 10:34, “Do not think I have come to bring peace upon the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but the sword.” In other words, Jesus’ idea of rest and peace is radically different than our idea of rest and peace. Jesus keeps using that word, but I do not think it means what we think it means.

But if Jesus does not mean by rest and peace like reading a John Grisham book on the beach, where do we find Jesus’ kind of rest and peace. We find it primarily and principally in the sacraments. For example, the Eucharist is punctuated at several points with Jesus’ notion of peace, especially right before Holy Communion. At that point, we turn to each other and say, “Peace be with you.”

What we wish for each other is not “I hope you get to the beach soon.” But rather we wish each other “shalom” a peace that comes from a deep and intimate friendship with God. We could be celebrating Mass in the middle of a war – as many Army chaplains have – and still experience Jesus’ peace and rest. You keep using that word, I do not think it means what we think it means.

Another sacrament where we feel the profound peace of Christ is in reconciliation. I don’t know how you feel when you walk out of the confessional, but I feel like on top of the world. I feel like I could fly because a great burden of sin has been lifted off my shoulders. I will never forget a little girl who made her first reconciliation. She was so happy she ran back to her mom and squealed, “Mom, can I do that again?!” You keep using that word, peace. I do not think it means what we think it means.

And a third sacrament of deep peace is Anointing of the Sick, especially when it is given for the last time, as Last Rites, or Extreme Unction. I received the Anointing of the Sick in 2003. I was hospitalized with viral meningitis. Bishop Sartain, our bishop at the time, came to the hospital and anointed my head and hands. Now, even though I was not miraculously healed, I did experience a profound peace.

And that peace pervaded my entire body. I felt like Jesus was holding me tightly in his arms, and that nothing could truly harm me. That must be how people feel who are anointed right before they die: Jesus is holding them tightly in his arms and nothing can harm them, not even death. That is true peace and rest. You keep using that word. I do not think it means what we think it means.

Folks, we will continue to hear the words rest and peace throughout Advent and Christmas. And the angel choirs will sing at the birth of Jesus in Lk 2:14, “Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

Don’t be fooled into thinking rest and peace mean a long vacation in the mountains or going on a cruise ship. Jesus’ peace comes from an abiding friendship with him, and frequently coexists with and is fully compatible with war, and wounds, and weakness. Jesus keeps using that word. But it does not mean what we think it means.

Praised be Jesus Christ!