Sunday Yr B Sunday between Jul 17-23
2 Samuel 7:1-14a, Psalm 89:20-37; Ephesians 2:11-22; Mark 6:30-34, 53-56
Memorize: Mark 6:31 Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.”
Time Off is Important
“I don’t know what we are going to do.”Daniel heard his dad speaking in low tones to his mother late that night. “With my loss of job and your cutbacks at work, we don’t have the money to make ends meet.”
“The Lord will provide as he always has.” His mother’s calm response soothed. “We may not be certain of what God has in store, but we will not be abandoned.”
“Yeah, but the stress is getting to me. I don’t seem to be making good choices. I spend my time searching for a job. I am typing resumes and working hard at doing everything I am supposed to do and nothing is moving.” His dad paused. “I have no takers, no interviews. The phone calls I have made…let’s just say, I’m not at my best. I’ve sounded better.”
“Honey, remember before I met you, when I went on that interview for that great job and blew it? I had never done so poorly. I knew that God must have a different plan and had allowed my performance to be poor so I would have to look for another job…which was the one that led me to meet you.” Daniel could tell his mom was smiling.
“Yeah, that was quite a year of twists and turns.” His dad chuckled.
“You know that the Lord will provide for us, yet the stress of it all is mounting. I think you need to take some time for yourself.” His mom suggested.
“We can’t afford it.”
Interrupting, his mom insisted, “We can’t afford not to.”
“How is that?”
“Did you know that Jesus often took time off to rest when he was in the middle of a lot of activity?”
“I knew he took time off. I just didn’t notice when.”
“Before every important event or when Jesus was exhausted from the crowds pressing in, he would find a place to rest. I was reading today in Mark 6, 30The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught. 31Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” 32So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place.’”
“Jesus did take a rest at a pivotal time. I guess I can too.”
“Life is about balance. Jesus balanced his work and rest or play time. He set us the example, and we can follow it. We see the work to be done, but don’t give ourselves the freedom to take off and rest from it. Let’s discuss some time off with Daniel, tomorrow morning.”
Daniel knocked on their bedroom door and entered when they answered. “I’m still awake, and maybe we could plan for a rest time right now.” He said with a grin.
“You’ve been eavesdropping?” His dad arched his eyebrows.
“I couldn’t help it. I was awake in my room and I didn’t mean to; I just heard.” Daniel defended himself.
“That’s okay, son. We understand.” His mom’s soothing voice calmed the tension.
“So, what’s the plan? How are we going to rest?”
“Why don’t we fix a picnic lunch that we can carry easily and meander?” Mom suggested.
“What do you mean?” Daniel’s mouth and cheek tweaked upward.
“Just as Jesus withdrew, we can withdraw by taking a walk, without phones and without computers. Let’s be together and get away from it all. We can meander and release all the stress. Walking helps relieve stress. Being quiet and uninterrupted relieves stress. By following what Jesus did, we can make our lives better today.”
“It sounds sort of weird, but I’m willing to try.” Daniel’s dad smiled at his wife and son.
“Me, too.” Said Daniel.
“Me, three.” His mom grinned.
The following day they meandered and discovered a small park with sprawling shade trees that provided protection from the blazing sun while they ate their lunch lounging on the cool freshly mown grass. After reclining and talking about nothing in particular, they strolled back home.
“Jesus knew what he was doing.” Daniel’s dad said. “I can’t believe how much better I feel, just taking a little quiet time for us. Maybe that’s why God talked about resting on the Sabbath day. God knew we needed some recuperation time.”
Both Daniel and his mom nodded agreement and all three vowed to take one day a week as a Sabbath rest day to do just that.
2 Samuel 7:1-14 (New International Version)
2 Samuel 7
God’s Promise to David
1 After the king was settled in his palace and the LORD had given him rest from all his enemies around him, 2 he said to Nathan the prophet, “Here I am, living in a palace of cedar, while the ark of God remains in a tent.” 3 Nathan replied to the king, “Whatever you have in mind, go ahead and do it, for the LORD is with you.” 4 That night the word of the LORD came to Nathan, saying: 5 “Go and tell my servant David, ‘This is what the LORD says: Are you the one to build me a house to dwell in? 6 I have not dwelt in a house from the day I brought the Israelites up out of Egypt to this day. I have been moving from place to place with a tent as my dwelling. 7 Wherever I have moved with all the Israelites, did I ever say to any of their rulers whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel, “Why have you not built me a house of cedar?” ‘ 8 “Now then, tell my servant David, ‘This is what the LORD Almighty says: I took you from the pasture and from following the flock to be ruler over my people Israel. 9 I have been with you wherever you have gone, and I have cut off all your enemies from before you. Now I will make your name great, like the names of the greatest men of the earth. 10 And I will provide a place for my people Israel and will plant them so that they can have a home of their own and no longer be disturbed. Wicked people will not oppress them anymore, as they did at the beginning 11 and have done ever since the time I appointed leaders [a] over my people Israel. I will also give you rest from all your enemies. ” ‘The LORD declares to you that the LORD himself will establish a house for you: 12 When your days are over and you rest with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, who will come from your own body, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 He is the one who will build a house for my Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. 14 I will be his father, and he will be my son. When he does wrong, I will punish him with the rod of men, with floggings inflicted by men.
Psalm 89:20-37 (New International Version)
20 I have found David my servant; with my sacred oil I have anointed him. 21 My hand will sustain him; surely my arm will strengthen him. 22 No enemy will subject him to tribute; no wicked man will oppress him. 23 I will crush his foes before him and strike down his adversaries. 24 My faithful love will be with him, and through my name his horn [a] will be exalted. 25 I will set his hand over the sea, his right hand over the rivers. 26 He will call out to me, ‘You are my Father, my God, the Rock my Savior.’ 27 I will also appoint him my firstborn, the most exalted of the kings of the earth. 28 I will maintain my love to him forever, and my covenant with him will never fail. 29 I will establish his line forever, his throne as long as the heavens endure. 30 “If his sons forsake my law and do not follow my statutes, 31 if they violate my decrees and fail to keep my commands, 32 I will punish their sin with the rod, their iniquity with flogging; 33 but I will not take my love from him, nor will I ever betray my faithfulness. 34 I will not violate my covenant or alter what my lips have uttered. 35 Once for all, I have sworn by my holiness— and I will not lie to David- 36 that his line will continue forever and his throne endure before me like the sun; 37 it will be established forever like the moon, the faithful witness in the sky.” Selah
Mark 6:30-34; 53-56 30 (NIV)
30The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught. 31Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” 32So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place. 33But many who saw them leaving recognized them and ran on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them. 34When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things. 53When they had crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret and anchored there. 54As soon as they got out of the boat, people recognized Jesus. 55They ran throughout that whole region and carried the sick on mats to wherever they heard he was. 56And wherever he went—into villages, towns or countryside—they placed the sick in the marketplaces. They begged him to let them touch even the edge of his cloak, and all who touched him were healed.
Daily prayer: Dear God, whom Jesus called ‘Daddy’, please forgive us for assuming that we know better than you and working ourselves without resting on the Sabbath. Help us to make good choices. We give you our struggles and trust that you will equip us to do what is necessary and lead us so that we can solve our problems. We love you because you first loved us. In Jesus name, Amen.
