The Unauthorized Homily

By Bill Dunn

A commentary on the Scripture readings from the Sunday Lectionary

(Gospel reading for Sunday, July 23rd: Jeremiah 23:1-6; Ephesians 2:13-18; Mark 6:30-34)

‘REST A WHILE’ VS. INFORMATION OVERLOAD

This week’s Gospel reading describes the frantic pace of Jesus’ ministry: “People were coming and going in great numbers, and [Jesus and his disciples] had no opportunity even to eat.”

Things were so busy, Jesus finally said to the Twelve, “Come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.”

Rest a while. Yes, that’s a good idea. Jesus knew what he was talking about. It’s important to step away from our hectic lives from time to time and rest a while. We need to recharge our emotional and spiritual batteries. We need to find that quiet “deserted place” where we can draw closer to God and hear his voice, which is often found, as the prophet Elijah discovered, in “a tiny whispering sound” (1 Kings 19). We need to suspend the “information overload” that seems to consume us nowadays.

Rest a while. Yes, I like the sound of that. I once rested a while. I think it was in 1985. No wait, our first daughter was born in 1984, so it must have been earlier.

Rest a while. It’s actually quite easy to do. Just get all the important tasks out of the way first, and there will be plenty of time to rest a while.

Alarm clock goes off at 4:55 a.m. Head foggy. What was I just dreaming about? No time to think about it. Quick, out of bed. Don’t dawdle or I’ll miss the beginning of the 5 a.m. newscast. Turn on radio in bathroom. Wild fires out west. Drought in south. Floods up north. Very active hurricane season. More roadside bombs in Baghdad. Big city mayor admits cocaine use. Fund-raising scandal. Torrington Honda clearance sale. Bob’s Discount Furniture has new shipment of bedroom sets. Newborn found in Dumpster. Supreme Court rules on important case. Latest poll: most Americans believe…something or other. I didn’t hear what he said. How about the weather? Do I need my umbrella today? Mostly sunny, no chance of rain. Good. eHarmony.com, experience a lifetime of love. Did Red Sox win last night? Rats! They blew it in the 9th. Discrimination lawsuit. Government study finds that overeating causes weight gain. Dixie Chicks on tour. Gas prices up again. Pentagon announces six marines killed yesterday.

Rest a while. Yes, it’s important to rest a while and hear the voice of God.

Turn on TV in kitchen. Start coffee maker while buttoning shirt. Get newspaper from front porch while zipping up trousers. Oops, hi neighbor, what are you doing out so early? Turn on computer while tying necktie. Lean back into kitchen to see Asian stock market report. Did news anchor change her hair style again? Check email while eating breakfast. A banana and some dry Cheerios in cup. No time for milk and spoon. Is coffee ready yet? You have 71 messages. OK, delete, delete, delete—hey, what’s this? Email from boss. Sent 11:39 p.m. last night. Please revise report for this morning’s meeting. Oh, no! Turn on printer. Click on spreadsheet program. Must change figures and reprint report. Look at watch: 5:40 a.m. I’m running late. Probably get stuck in traffic again. Scan balance of emails. Glance at newspaper headlines. Pentagon announces four marines killed yesterday. Hmm, didn’t radio say six? Gotta go. Running late. Fill travel mug. Do I need umbrella? Can’t remember. Grab umbrella just in case. Back out of driveway. Where’s briefcase? Sitting next to computer. Darn! Run back into house.

Rest a while. Yes, just as the psalmist taught, “Be still and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10).

And so it goes for the next 10 to 12 hours. Every meeting results in a pile of important messages waiting on desk. Every phone call produces the need to make three additional phone calls. Every email demands a reply—now! Cell phone ringing so often it gets turned off and put into desk drawer. Not enough hours in the day. Where’s that report? Who has the quarterly sales figures? Redo the entire proposal? You’re kidding me?! No, you’re not. What do you mean, they’re on credit hold? I just guaranteed a shipment date. Eat lunch at desk. No time to go out. I think there are ketchup packets in bottom drawer. Hey, there’s that Bible I brought to work. Planned to read it during coffee breaks and lunch hour. Haven’t touched it in two years. Mid-afternoon. Eyelids heavy. Can’t lose concentration. More coffee. Biggest customer on phone, irate. Blame shipping department. Sharp pain in stomach. Ignore it. Must press on.

Rest a while. Yes, relax and draw nearer to God.

Check stock market. Dow Jones down again. Make “to do” list for weekend. Must cram four days worth of chores and yard work into two days. Go to church on Sunday? Maybe, if not behind schedule. Make “to do” list for next month. Vacation coming up. Must cram year’s worth of fun into one week. Make hotel reservations, but only in place with good cell phone reception to keep in constant touch with office. Make list of books to read while on vacation. Must keep up with latest business and industry trends. Don’t forget to copy important files onto laptop computer. Stop gazing out window. Focus! Biggest customer on phone again, still irate. Make promises that can’t be kept. Going to be another late night. Dull ache in back of head. Ignore it. Must press on.

Rest a while. Yes, good idea, Jesus. I plan to do just that any time now. Maybe tomorrow. Maybe next week. First let me catch up on some of this paperwork and listen to the latest news report. Yes, good idea. Rest a while.

©2006