Thursday July 20, 2017
Recently, I visited a friend of mine. His two little daughters began quizzing me on the Bible. We explored each other’s familiarity with the story of Jesus, and at one point I asked them: “What was written on the cross on which Jesus died?” The younger one blurted out: “R.I.P.” (Rest in Peace). We laughed our hearts out.
But coming to think of it in the context of today’s reading, wasn’t she revealing the hidden writing on the cross? On his cross, in perfect obedience to his Father, Christ rested in peace. We too, while carrying our daily burdens, can lean on God and give rest to our souls. YHWH invited the Hebrews to do so. And Jesus invites us to do so as well: “Come to me . . . take my yoke upon you . . . you will find rest.” God is a resting place for us. His yoke is good and his burden is light. Let us lean on him and RIP.
