Reflection on the Message of July 25, 2008

THE REAL REST IS IN GOD

"Dear children! At this time when you are thinking of physical rest, I call you to conversion. Pray and work so that your heart yearns for God the Creator who is the true rest of your soul and your body. May He reveal His face to you and may He give you His peace. I am with you and intercede before God for each of you. Thank you for having responded to my call." Message of July 25, 2008

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It is the time of holidays and vacations and people ask themselves how to make the best of this time and how to rest well. Some choose the mountains, some go to the seaside, some will decide to read a good book, and some will choose to walk in the nature.

Our Lady invites us to take a completely different kind of rest. She teaches us that the real rest can be found in conversion. Conversion envelops the whole person: body and soul, works and deeds. St. Marc cites the first words of Jesus at the beginning of his public acts: “Convert and trust the Gospel” (Mk 1,15). Conversion does not consist only of the external fulfillment of God’s commands. It consists of the personal encounter with Jesus Christ. After this encounter, a man becomes fully aware of who he is and what he is; he becomes aware of his sins and weaknesses, but also of his importance and value. After the encounter with Jesus, a man feels a desire to change his old ways of life, to begin with a new life. He lets Jesus to enter his days, his life, his behavior and thoughts.

Our Lady invites us furthermore to pray, so our hearts would yearn more for our Lord Creator, since only He can give real rest to our soul and to our body.

The heart is the center of man. No one has two hearts, so he can hate with one and love with the other. A man has only one heart, and therefore he must choose forgiveness, peace, love and trust. To forgive means to let another in one’s heart and to accept him as he is. Thomas of Aquina says that human heart is created on the God’s image, to love.

Time of rest is great opportunity to stop for a moment and to start praying again. It is a time for a more intense, deeper encounter with God. The rest is also an opportunity to find more time for the friends whom we may have forgotten, to call them and to share with them good news or decisions we have made recently. Time of rest is the opportunity for a total change of life in relation towards God, towards the others and towards one’s self. Let’s use this rest, so we don’t spend in vain the time which is precious to us.

Our Lady advocates us in front of God and asks of Him forgiveness and mercy for us. She advocates us and follows us on our way; therefore we need not to be afraid.

I would finish with the words of Psalm 62, which says:

Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from Him.
He alone is my rock and my salvation;
He is my fortress, I will not be shaken.
My salvation and my honor depend on God;
He is my mighty rock, my refuge.
Trust in Him at all times, O people;
pour out your hearts to Him.

Fra Danko Perutina
Medugorje July 26th 2008