For a couple weeks now, we’ve ben reflecting on the Jubilee Year we’re celebrating. Despite our best efforts, it’s easy for things to drift away from God’s plan over time; a Jubilee year is a moment to set things back in the right direction, towards God and the life he promises.







We started by considering how the Jubilee year calls us to both seek forgiveness of our debts and to forgive the debts of others. Debts, of course, don’t have to be just financial debts, but can take on any form. Then last week, we explored how the Jubilee year challenges us take on the mindset of a special kind of traveler: not that of a wanderer who has no destination or that of a tourist who expects a comfortable journey, but that of a pilgrim who recognizes how a journey filled with joys and struggles is preparation for a holy destination.







A Jubilee Year was also a year of rest. Where possible, God’s people would rest from their work; even the land was permitted to rest. It was never intended to be a year-long vacation though. The Jubilee Year is a year of resting, not a year of rusting. After-all, not all rest is equal; some rest is truly refreshing while other rest is more like rusting: a waste. An example of rest might be to go outside for a walk or take a break to read a book. An example of rusting might be spending hours doom scrolling, searching for the bottom of facebook or YouTube or whatever social media you’re into. Real resting gives opportunity for real growth; real rusting keeps us where we are; it’s searching for the bottom of a bottomless pit or stagnation.







We heard today about the Transfiguration. Jesus led Peter, James and John up a mountain and once they had reached the summit, they needed to rest; we’re even told how Peter, James and John, “…were weighed down with sleep…”[i]. Because they stayed awake though, they witnessed the transfiguration of Jesus and his encounter with Moses and Elijah. Having that glimpse of God’s plan for creation, Peter proposed that they, “…make three dwellings…”[ii], three places to live there on the mountain. Peter perhaps thought it would have been great to remain there for the remainder of his life, with no need for the exhausting trek back down the mountain.







That would have been rusting though. They weren’t to simply exist on a mountain; disciples are made to share in God’s work. Peter, James and John weren’t to keep the experience of the Transfiguration to themselves but to renew their commitment of sharing the Good News. That’s what real rest is about: renewal.







During a Jubilee Year, even the land was permitted to rest. Farmers wouldn’t plant, grow or harvest and during that break the nutrients in the soil would be renewed so future crops would better nurture God’s people. Likewise, the people would rest to renew their understandin of what it meant to live as God’s chosen people; they would take extra space to nurture their relationship with God.







Today, it’s probably not possible for most to simply rest from all work for the year. But maybe there’s opportunity for all for renew our understanding of what it means to be disciples.







Maybe this Jubilee Year is an opportunity to remember that we weren’t made for toil. It’s easy to get into habits that glorify work: to someone new we ask, “what do you do?” and to an old friend, we ask, “have you been keeping busy?” There’s more to people than work. Machines were made for toil, but people have been made for joy.







Maybe this Jubilee Year is an opportunity to examine balance in life, to evaluate what’s given to the various pressures placed on time and energy. Work, family, friends, finances,