“None can sense more deeply than you artists, ingenious creators of beauty that you are, something of the pathos with which God at the dawn of creation looked upon the work of his hands. A glimmer of that feeling has shone so often in your eyes when—like the artists of every age—captivated by the hidden power of sounds and words, colors and shapes, you have admired the work of your inspiration, sensing in it some echo of the mystery of creation with which God, the sole creator of all things, has wished in some way to associate you.”
Letter to Artists, 1
“That is why artists, the more conscious they are of their “gift”, are led all the more to see themselves and the whole of creation with eyes able to contemplate and give thanks, and to raise to God a hymn of praise. This is the only way for them to come to a full understanding of themselves, their vocation and their mission.”
Letter to Artists, 1
Mark 16:15-20
Jesus said to his disciples: “Go into the whole world and proclaim the gospel to every creature. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved; whoever does not believe will be condemned.
These signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will drive out demons, they will speak new languages. They will pick up serpents with their hands, and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not harm them. They will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”
So then the Lord Jesus, after he spoke to them, was taken up into heaven and took his seat at the right hand of God.
But they went forth and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the word through accompanying signs.
Resting in Beauty | Gratitude
Reflection by Erin Day
After we have been transformed by the goodness and splendor of our Lord and convinced of His truth by His beauty, we are left in a period of glorious rest. It is a period of necessary silent reflection, a time for us to honor what we’ve encountered and to offer gratitude for God’s gift of love.
We often don’t take time for reflective rest. We hurry through life and skip along on the surface without allowing ourselves to pause and reflect. We often forget to thank God for His blessings.
This week, we will focus on the little details of each day. We will see each small part of our lives as a piece of the greater love story given to us from our Father. We will take time to rest, take a deep breath, and bask in God romancing our hearts through the smallest moments. They may seem small, but if we take time to rest in them, we will see that they are filled to the brim with God’s intentional love and care.
Be Still
Rest is the period in which the disciples were left gazing into the sky after Jesus spoke to them. This is the moment in which God lingered in “His delighted gaze upon Creation” (Letter to Artists, 3). This moment deserves reflection. It is a time of rejoicing and a time when our hearts are stirred to gratitude. We sing in our souls a song of praise and thanksgiving. We desire to create in our soul a place where we aren’t thinking of the past or rushing to the next task. We aren’t worried or anxious. We are in the ocean of God’s love. We are present and at rest.
In this week’s Gospel, we witness the radiant beauty of Christ speaking directly to our hearts. He insists that there is work to be done for God’s Kingdom. We receive this revelation into our very being and we are awestruck at the beauty of Jesus’ Ascension into Heaven! “Is it in any way surprising that this leaves the spirit overwhelmed as it were, so that it can only stammer in reply?” (Letter to Artists, 6).
Imagine yourself with the disciples, in that moment when they found themselves looking about, trying to understand what they had just experienced. You are left gazing into the sky where the cloud and Jesus once were. Imagine your soul in soothing silence after beholding such radiant light. You must rest and absorb what has been given to you. Take a deep breath, and bathe in the glorious splendor of our King. You are content in the Lord’s gift. Sheer delight continues ringing within, and it moves you to a place of gratitude. Stirring in you is a desire to share what you have encountered—but not yet. You must bask in the sweetness of this moment for a little while longer.
The joy is so immense that it doesn’t feel right to rush out and share the good news without pause. We must give this moment the attention it deserves. Who do we thank? Who do we turn our gaze to? The author of all creation and beauty Himself is to thank and be praised, now and forever.
We are invited to enter into God’s love through the smallness of our days, taking time to simply be, and being grateful for our Father’s loving care. We can be “in the moment” when a loved one gives us an unexpected phone call. Be present and listen. The to-do list can wait. We can take time to thank God for the squealing and laughter of our delighted children. We can rest through the work we do by working at a pace that leaves room for reflection, and then step back and reflect on the work God has allowed us to do. We can be grateful for the gifts and talents God has given us and resist the temptations of quantity over quality, or of straining beyond our abilities. After we receive the Eucharist at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, we can rest in the Lord’s embrace and thank Him for loving us so abundantly that He allows us to receive Him. This is what it means to rest in beauty. Be in that precious moment of gazing up to our Father and nowhere else.
All Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end, Amen.
Daily Living:
Be still. Taking time to rest can be a challenge in our culture. What keeps you from being still in God’s presence and gazing upon the beauty around you? What other ways do you need to challenge yourself to rest?
Relish the little details. Noticing the little details of our day can help us to rest in God Who gives us the beauty in the little details. What little details have you noticed recently?
Resist the temptation to rush. The devil can speak lies into us and tell us that if we rest, we are lazy. We feel the urge to rush and to be “productive.” How can you resist this temptation?
Be filled with gratitude. It is important to “raise to God a hymn of praise” (Letter to Artists, 1). We often thank God for the large, obvious gifts He gives us. Do you ever forget to thank God for the little details in your life? Focus on letting the little details speak loudly to you of God’s love and care this week.
UP NEXT: Week 7: Daily Flow