Come to me, all you who are wearied and burdened, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28

National parks, beaches, cabins, and campgrounds fill up during the summer months as individuals and families enjoy a short break from school or work. Some people visit distant family members. Others are drawn to amusement parks, museums, or historical sites.

High gas prices might keep you close to home this summer, but it's not good to skip vacation altogether. Our minds and bodies need rest. Well-planned vacations can reduce stress, increase productivity, improve overall health, and strengthen family relationships.

DON'T VACATION FROM THE WORD

Our souls also need rest. Unfortunately, the summer months often become a time for some to take a break from regular worship. Summer brings us to the "non-festival" portion of the church year. Gone are the external trappings that stir our senses during the Christmas and Easter seasons. Gone is the draw to attend worship because the children or grandchildren are singing.

What remains seems so ordinary, so unimportant. Unadorned orders of worship. Confession and absolution. The spoken Word. An occasional splash of water at the font. A morsel of bread and sip of wine. How can these mundane activities compete with a day at the beach or another round on the golf course? Church attendance declines. Satan smiles.

The devil never goes on vacation. He labors nonstop with his allies, the unbelieving world and our own sinful natures, to sever our baptismal connection to Jesus. Without the gospel, we have no power to fend off his attacks on our faith.

VACATION IN THE WORD

This summer, don't take a vacation from Word and sacrament. Find your rest in Word and sacrament.

Jesus says, "Come to me, all you who are wearied and burdened, and I will give you rest." Take him up on his offer. As we vacation in the Word, we escape the stress and pressure of a guilty conscience. We all fail to fear, love, and trust in God above all things. We all deserve his wrath and punishment, now and in eternity. As the devil drives us to despair, the gospel holds Jesus before our eyes. We find our rest in him.

Jesus speaks to us through the words of absolution. "Your sins are forgiven!" The font stands as a reminder that God has claimed us as his very own. We were buried with Christ. We rose with him to new life. There's more than bread and wine in that simple meal. We receive the very body and blood of Jesus. Our sins are forgiven. We have life and salvation. We find rest for our souls.

In public worship we gather with family and friends who share our faith and support us on our journey to heaven. Through Word and sacrament, God frees us to enjoy both our work and our play, confident that we remain his beloved children through faith in Jesus.