Sabbath & S’mores

By Fr Alex Swain

Dear families in Christ,

This past weekend was the annual CYFM retreat at Chapel Rock. A small but mighty group gathered together for a relaxed, lightly programmed weekend. We chatted, we rested, we napped, ate tasty food, and played card games. We laughed and relaxed into the moments of respite while up in Prescott.

The theme of the weekend was Sabbath & S’mores, and during it, we contemplated what it means that God calls us to rest. In Genesis, the day that God ceases from labor (the 7th day) is the only day explicitly marked as Holy.

Rest, sabbath, ceasing from work, is critical to our mental, physical, and spiritual well being. The Scriptures continually call us to times of rest and ceasing from labor as something which God asks us to participate in, a “Holy Sabbath to the LORD” (Exodus 16:23).

Rest is programmed into our bodies, which isn’t too surprising, as we are made in the image of God after all, and rest is something God sees as important.

When we engage in restful activity—a leisurely walk, gentle reading, listening to music, sitting on the porch and looking at the beautiful world we live in—the Default Mode Network in our brain is activated. Activating the DMN has a whole host of benefits— including developing compassion and empathy, developing a sense of self, and strengthening memory formation and recall skills.

All of this is through rest!

With Advent around the corner (November 30) I think now is a wonderful time to consider how you and your family might slow down and rest. Advent is a slower, quieter period of the liturgical year.

Rest is something fundamental and critical to our lives, and if we want to continue to be and become disciples of Jesus Christ, rest is critical.

How might you engage in rest during the Advent season?

I encourage us all to prayerfully discern how we may rest more in Advent, and offer that time to God.

Yours in Christ,

—Fr Alex, OSBCn