Make time to ‘come away and rest awhile’ with Lord

My dear brothers and sisters,
One of the Lord’s imperatives to His first disciples was “Come away with me and rest awhile.”  As we come to the end of summer, I hope you were able to find some time to relax and be renewed during this wonderful season.
Like many of you, while growing up, my brothers, sisters and I always enjoyed going down the shore in the summer. The beach, the boardwalk with its rides and snacks, fishing and crabbing, and seeing summer friends were all things we looked forward to. And I fondly recall during some of those years going to daily Mass in late afternoon at the Christian Brothers residence in Ocean City.  
Having spent many years either studying at or involved in administration of the North American College in Rome, the summer always provided some welcomed extended down time for me. It gave me time to relax, rejuvenate, and extra time to be with Our Lord.
This past summer, I was able to spend some time with my family at the shore, but also enjoyed trips with different groups of friends to the Midwest and New England. Here in Metuchen, I was also grateful for the slower pace of the last several weeks as it gave me the opportunity for different pastoral activities. Indeed, during my past three summers here in our diocese I have been able to make pastoral visits to places I am not able to fit in my schedule during the rest of the year filled with so many confirmation Masses, school visits, and administrative responsibilities.
The summer has allowed me to visit some of our parishes for daily Mass, and to visit with religious communities, as well nursing homes and prisons in our diocese. It is always so moving to celebrate the Eucharist at these places. I have no doubt that I receive more than I give during these visits. The conversations are always uplifting, and the joy real.
Of course, Jesus’ invitation to “come away with me and rest awhile” is an invitation to grow closer to Him through prayer and the summer gives us time for that, too. I am grateful that I was able to spend several days at a Christian Brothers Retreat House this summer. Being by the water is very meditative for me, so I enjoyed praying by the ocean at the Christian Brothers house, while visiting with my family down the shore and at the lakes in the Midwest, where this summer I visited friends in Wisconsin and Minnesota. Our Lord must have found speaking with the Father less distracting at a lake, too, as He spent much time on the Sea of Galilee where He called so many of His disciples who were fishermen.
Although I am sad to see the summer come to a close and am grateful for all the opportunities we all have had to spend more time with the Lord throughout this season, I pray that we will make time in the coming seasons to  “come away and rest awhile” in Our Lord’s presence.
As the end of summer also signals the beginning of a new school year, I am mindful of the great movement taking place to open our schools for our youth. On my morning walks through town here in Metuchen, I see workers getting Campbell Elementary School ready to open, while the other early morning one of the brothers at Saint Joseph High School was working in the garden to beautify the campus, and our cathedral staff assiduously prepares St. Francis School to open. I am so grateful for all those who make our Catholic schools such great places for our children to grow in knowledge and in the faith:  priests, religious, parents, our generous teachers and administrators, benefactors and the youth themselves. I pray that everyone got some rest this summer, and that during the upcoming year they may learn anew the importance of resting in the Lord.
Throughout the year, the chapel in my residence is a blessing and oasis for me, a place where I am rejuvenated daily by resting with the Lord. I know the St. John Neumann chapel in our Diocesan Pastoral Center is likewise a place where many come to spend time in daily adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and daily Mass. When you are in the Piscataway area, or even make a special trip, I encourage to come by between 9 and 11:30 a.m. to our center. Our Lord awaits you!
It is very heartening, too, and I am truly grateful that in so many of our parishes our Lord is present in Eucharistic Adoration. If He was adored at each moment of each day somewhere throughout our diocese; we would receive abundant Blessings from our resting in Him!
Our Lady shows us the way to her Son, as she rested with Him each day, even when she did not understand all that was going on in His life or hers, and even when a sword pierced her heart. Mary always leads us to her Son, who always awaits us. Be assured I am bringing you in prayer to Him through her, and I ask you to do the same for me. God bless you all.

The Most Reverend James F. Checchio, JCD, MBA
Bishop of Metuchen