Suffering With Joy

Sabbath Moments

August 7, 2010

Sabbath Moments are those times when we rest in the Lord, rather than doing, although sometimes when we are doing something we are recollected in God and it becomes a Sabbath Moment.  Hosted by Colleen at Thoughts on Grace, we get together weekly to share and learn from each other ways to be close to God in this busy world.

This week I was praying the Glorious Mysteries of the Rosary when the thoughts and images of Jesus being abandoned by His disciples over His statements on eating His flesh and drinking His blood came to mind.  This had nothing to do with the Glorious Mysteries, but I went with it anyway. St. Peter’s response to the question Jesus put to His apostles (John 6: 68-70) at this turn in His ministry kept pulling at me,

“Will you also go away?” Simon Peter therefore answered, “Lord, to whom shall we go?  Thou hast words of everlasting life, and we have come to believe and to know that Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.

Thou hast words, indeed.  What are these words of everlasting life the Savior speaks?  Word after word came to me:

Go and sin no more. (John 8:11)

Whose faith when he saw, he said: Man, thy sins are forgiven thee. (Lk. 5: 20)

I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No man cometh to the Father, but by me. (John 14: 6)

Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. (Matt. 11: 29)

Then Jesus said to his disciples: If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. (Matt. 16: 24)

I am the bread of life. Your fathers did eat manna in the desert, and are dead. This is the bread which cometh down from heaven; that if any man eat of it, he may not die. I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever; and the bread that I will give, is my flesh, for the life of the world. (John 6: 48-51)

Suffer children to come to me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.  Amen, I say to you: Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a child, shall not enter into it. (Lk. 18: 16-17)

…every one that exalteth himself, shall be humbled; and he that humbleth himself, shall be exalted. (Lk. 14: 11)

Philip, he that seeth me seeth the Father also. (John 14: 9)

Many more thoughts came to me and forced me to examine my conscience as to my faithfulness to His word. I thought of the bumper stickers that were so common some years ago and which one hardly sees any more: “Jesus is the Answer.” He is indeed the answer to every question of any importance, and He has told us exactly what to do to be with Him forever.  Throughout the week I returned to St. Peter’s great confession for many more Sabbath Moments.  “Lord, indeed, to whom shall I go?  Thou hast the words of everlasting life.”

A second Sabbath Moment: These musings reminded me of the great aria from Handel’s Messiah, “Come Unto Him” which contains the words, “and learn of Him for He is meek and lowly of heart.” It is the soprano aria that comes after the contralto aria “He shall feed His flock.”  When I was a parish choir director we sang the first for the Communion hymn at midnight Mass with organ and violin.  From the choir loft, of course, in the back of church as this was not a performance!  The whole choir sang in unison “He shall feed His flock” and the violin took the place of the soprano aria, “Come unto Him.”  The beauty and reverence of that night stays with me to this day.

Tags: Catholic Church, music

2 Comments to Sabbath Moments

1. 

   I’m increasingly finding the rosary to be an excellent tool for insightful moments such as you describe, as it helps bring to mind what our Lord said and did.

   Thanks for sharing this!

   Evan
Evan on August 7th, 2010
2. 

   oh my, what a beautiful post. Your reflections were so awesome. Inspiring. Love Handel’s Messiah. And love those words of Peter – To who shall we go? God bless! Thanks for joining me each week in Sabbath moments!
Colleen on August 7th, 2010