In life we experience many struggles, both physical and spiritual. We go through difficult times, our faith is tested, and our strength is drained. We seek solace in our responsibilities, we extend our hands to our brothers and sisters in need, and we continue on our journey as children of God.

But in the face of so much struggle, Father Eustáquio brings us a word of consolation: “rest and sleep”. Read the Blessed One's text on the subject. This writing was published in the Sacred Hearts Parish Bulletin in the years 1946/1947.

Let us follow one of the twelve apostles, who left the room of the Last Supper with a sinister plan in his heart. He knows that Jesus will go, that very night, with his disciples to the Garden of Olives to pray. As if possessed, he runs through the streets of Jerusalem, his hair and beard disheveled, his gestures abrupt and nervous. He came to the Sanhedrin, where the advisors of the great council of the Jews meet. He presents himself and says: “Do you want this Nazarene? Do you want to arrest him before Passover, without drawing much attention? Give me 30 pieces of silver and I will deliver him to you tonight.” Amidst acclamations, his offer is accepted, the money is given to him, and he puts it in his pocket..

Meanwhile, Jesus is in the garden, enduring cruel agony. He drank the cup of bitterness to the last drop, but, comforted by the angel, he rises and approaches the apostles, whom he finds awake this time. He sees their weariness and, solicitously, says: “Sleep now. My heavenly Father has sent me his angel of comfort, sleep! I have drunk the cup of sorrows. Sleep.”!

O parents. Alas, if you have done everything to educate your children in religion and the practice of virtue, to you too, these words ring in your ears, on the threshold of eternity: now, rest and sleep..

O you, fighters of the Church of God, who have sacrificed time and money, strength and courage, spirit and life for the bride of Christ. He says to you after this struggle: rest and sleep. The priest of Christ, who, like Moses, leads the people to death, praying and sacrificing for this vale of tears, also for you is this word: rest and sleep.

The religious person who, like a lit candle, consumes himself before God, also sends this word to you: rest and sleep.

O missionary, who have left everything to lead souls to God, above all the sweet voice of the Lord will sound: rest and sleep.

Every man who, during his life, struggled against the devil, the world, and the flesh, when you close your eyes forever, you will hear the Word of the Lord: rest and sleep..

After giving the apostles some rest, Jesus wakes them and says, “Come, for he who will betray me is here. Come! … where to, O my Jesus?”

– My son, to the suffering…
For whom, my Jesus!
– For you, my son! …

Now I see clearly that Jesus willingly wanted to suffer out of love for me. He could have run away, but he didn't. He could have waited for his tormentors, but no, he went to meet them... as if they were his benefactors.

Thank you a thousand times, O Jesus! Take us to where You have called us..