Pope: We must discern true from false rest

Lake on Saltspring Island ICN/JS

Source: Vatican Media

During his General Audience with crowds in St Peter's Square today, Pope Francis focused on the Commandment 'Keep holy the Lord's Day.'

Resting on Sunday is not a mere escape or diversion, but a command to imitate God himself, who on the seventh day rested from his words and contemplated the goodness of his creation, he said.

He pointed out that there is "false rest" and "true rest". Society he said, is thirsty for entertainment and holidays. A successful person is seen as one who can afford many different kinds of pleasure. But this mentality slips towards the dissatisfaction of an anaesthetised existence of entertainment, that is not rest, but escape from reality.

"Man has never rested as much as today, yet man has never experienced so much emptiness."

On the other hand, Pope Francis explained, true rest is "a moment of contemplation, of praise." It is a time to look at reality and say "how beautiful life is." It is a time to say thank you to God, for your life, for your mercy, for all your gifts. Sunday is not a day to cancel all the other days, but to recall them, bless them and make peace with life because it is precious.

"Peace is chosen" he said. "It cannot be imposed or found by chance."

The Pope concluded: "When on our weekly day of rest, we contemplate our lives and the world around us, let us be conscious of God's provident care and conform ourselves like Jesus to the Father's will, knowing that in the end, "all is grace". For, as the Psalmist assures us: "In God alone do our souls find rest."