Society considers work to be a grave punishment and believes the fullness of life exists in the absence of labor.
In reality, work, without being ordered to the right good, is unsatisfactory, and likewise, rest, when disordered, is also unfulfilling.
The book of Genesis hints at the significance of work. In chapter two, God creates Adam, to whom is entrusted responsibility over the earthly creatures, indicating that the human race has dominion over all created things and a duty to work.
In the next chapter comes the fall of man, and with that, its consequences – such as difficulty and hardship in work. This key detail gives revelation to the nature of man: that work is a part of our service to God – a fulfilling aspect of our nature. However, Original Sin made this mission much more difficult to carry out.
God creates each person with a distinct task to complete, unique to their gifts and circumstances. Studying as a student or working a full-time job, for instance, is a part of, if not the duty, God gives us. He desires His children to know, love, and serve Him, exactly where they are.
And yet, all of us feel tired and burnt out over work – in desperate need of rest.
I’ve experienced this tension in my life many times.
When I hit the midpoint of my college semester this fall, I found myself angsty and impatient to finish the year, daydreaming about the rest that the winter break would bring.
More often than not, I find myself more satisfied by the idea of rest than the rest itself, because the time I do have to rest isn’t always spent well.
Nearing the end of the semester, I always mentally or physically create a list of things I want to do over the coming break. Typically, these are activities I miss out on doing during a heavy study season – like reading, crafting, trying a new recipe, social events, or getting more sleep.
But on the first day of break, I usually tell myself that I first need a day to “rest.” This day might look like sleeping in, snacking at random hours of the day without eating a real meal, watching TV, then scrolling on my phone, and repeating. One can probably guess that the next day, I didn’t actually feel rested.
This pattern made me realize that my initial idea of rest wasn’t quite right. In actuality, rest is something deeper.
Our understanding of this also goes back to the account of Creation. God creates the world in six days and rests on the seventh. In the Apostolic Letter, Dies Domini, St. Pope John Paul II writes that rest “is man's way of withdrawing from the sometimes excessively demanding cycle of earthly tasks in order to renew his awareness that everything is the work of God.” God resting on the Sabbath was not inactivity, but celebrating and living in the joy of his handiwork.
John Paul II continues to write, “In order that rest may not degenerate into emptiness or boredom, it must offer spiritual enrichment, greater freedom, opportunities for contemplation and fraternal communion.”
This invites us to reflect on how we have spent our time. Let’s not mistake distractions and wasting time for resting.
In Friends of God, St. Josemaria emphasizes that “to rest is not to do nothing. It is to turn our attention to other activities that require less effort.” Resting is necessary so that one is prepared to carry out the next task with more love and efficacy.
This becomes especially important as we prepare for the coming of Christ this Advent.
As we enter the Christmas season, we should remember that the work that no longer preoccupies our time can now be the opportunity to draw closer to Christ, the real source of renewal. Every day can be a celebration of the ultimate gift of God’s Son.
Good activities like making art, exercising, exploring the city, or spending time with family and friends can also be restful and enriching, drawing us into deeper contemplation and gratitude.
This is the Christian heart of work and rest. And perhaps, our labors, done with love, can be the gift we present to the Baby Jesus.
“‘Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened,' and I will give you rest.” (Matt 11:28)