God of Holy Rest
“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”
Michael O’Brien is a Canadian Roman Catholic artist and author who works in a neo-Byzantine style. This is his painting, Elijah in the Desert, which depicts the prophet, weary and asleep under a broom tree (see 1Kings 19:3-5). The composition of this painting is utterly compelling in its simplicity. The broom tree is ephemeral and white: an injection of brightness and lightness in an image whose darkness and heavy lines gives us a visceral sense of the prophet’s weariness. But even so, the prophet seems to have taken as his place of rest a leaf-like cocoon tied to the roots of the tree, which floats above him like a cloud, or a dream. On the horizon, a solitary figure walks alone, a silhouette; perhaps the soft-spoken and elusive Lord (cf. 1Ki 19:11-13) whom the prophet serves. (As an aside, Elijah seems to be a favorite symbol of O’Brien, whose first novel — later expanded into a trilogy — is about a Roman Catholic priest named “Father Elijah” who navigating the corruption of Church and world in the face of the Apocalypse).
Of course, Elijah does not feature at all in this week’s reading, but the weariness he expresses is precisely what Jesus seeks to minister in our Gospel lesson from Matthew 11. Elijah, having given himself over to the prophetic work to which he was called, after successfully confronting King Ahab, and the utter idolatry into which the Kingdom of Israel had fallen, was completely exhausted, and felt that his efforts had been futile. “It is enough!” he cried out. “Take away my life. For I am not better than my fathers.” (1 Kings 19:4 — this verse is beautifully dramatized by Mendelson in the eponymous oratorio.) And Elijah is met and sustained and strengthened in the wilderness: as God has promised for us as well.
The Lord is loving to everyone, and his mercy is over all his works.
— Psalm 145:9
Sixth Sunday after Pentecost
Texts for This Week
Prayer
Grant us, O Lord, we pray, the spirit to think and do always those things that are right, that we, who can do no good thing apart from you, may by you be enabled to live according to your will; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
May the Road Rise to Meet You
Paul Mealor is a contemporary Welsh composer, who focuses on choral music that is classical in both its style and content. Here is his setting of an famous and well-beloved old Irish blessing:
May the road rise to meet you. May the wind be always at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face; the rains fall soft upon your fields and until we meet again, may God hold you in the palm of His hand.
Providence, as we recognize in this weeks readings, is not merely a matter of good things continually coming to us, that we might be #blessed. It is a matter of God’s gentleness and graciousness meeting us in the midst of our weariness and hopelessness. That the road would not just be free of obstacles, but that it would rise to meet us: and that in perceiving these mercies, we would be awakened also to God’s blessing in all of the everyday gifts that strengthen us for the journey.
The Easy Yoke
From Homily 38 on Matthew of St. John Chrysostom
Having enlightened the hearts of his disciples with His words, and manifesting His incomparable power, and awakening their deepest desire, Jesus invites them, saying, “Come unto me, all you that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” This invitation is extended not only to certain individuals, but to all. All who are burdened by anxiety, sorrow, and sin. Come, not to be called to account, but to have your sins forgiven. Come, not to honor Me, but to be saved by Me. Come, for I will grant you rest. Come, it is not merely salvation that I promise, but a place of complete security. “Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am meek and lowly in heart; and you shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Come, therefore: and do not be afraid when you hear of a yoke, for it is easy; and do not be afraid when I speak of a burden, for it is light.
