Finding rest in Jesus means taking this life seriously

A Reflection for Wednesday of the Second Week of Advent

Find today’s readings here.

I sometimes hear or read non-believers dismissing Christianity as a means of glossing over this life to focus on getting into heaven. To be honest, I hear and read some Christians witnessing to this kind of faith as well. There’s a simplicity in it, which attracts certain types of people, and pushes others away.

Today’s Gospel passage from Matthew seems to reinforce the idea that Christian belief is that simple. Just “Come to me,” Jesus says, “and I will give you rest.” Today we might hear a Christian preacher say something like, “Just welcome Jesus into your life, into your heart, and everything will work out!”

That’s not been my experience. Don’t get me wrong, I have a good life in many ways. There have been very challenging moments, but new and unexpected paths forward have opened up and I feel blessed. But I don’t attribute this to an unwavering conviction that loving Jesus will get me to heaven. In fact, my Christian faith has evolved, matured and stumbled precisely through the ebbs and flows of this life.

When I’m talking to other people about faith, I sometimes say that the hardest thing I’ve ever done in my life is try to be a Christian. It’s so difficult. How many of us love our neighbors? Try loving your enemies. Ever judged somebody? Well, there’s absolutely no room for that if you’re a follower of Jesus. How many poor or marginalized people are in your life?

The path of discipleship might start with heaven as the ultimate goal. But we learn how to be Christian here and now. Through the ups and downs, the joys and failures, we begin to realize that the one constant, predictable, enduring reality is God’s love for us (and everyone else) through it all. When we can cross that threshold, we will “find rest.”