I’ve always felt like Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups has been missing out on a major opportunity to feature, “Build Me Up, Buttercup,” in one of their commercials. And while we never got a bunch of smiling faces singing that Motown classic while taking a bite out of peanut butter filled chocolate brilliance, the world was treated to crispier, crunchier Hershey brand chocolate jingle in 1988. “Gimme a break! Gimme a break! Break me off a piece of that Kit Kat bar!”
Developed by Rowntree’s of York in the United Kingdom in 1911, the standard Kit Kat bar essentially consists of four connected chocolate covered wafers. Typically eaten one at a time, the song is accurate in describing how one “breaks off a piece” to indulge in the candy. But what about that line, “Gimme a break!”?
Well, in the Gospel accounts, Jesus is often seen trying to take a break (and often not very successfully due to his growing popularity and notoriety). However, taking a break was an important part of his Jewish faith, as remembering the Sabbath day and keeping it holy was and still is one of the Ten Commandments in the law of Moses. In one instance, Jesus was accused of violating the Sabbath law, and not taking the necessary break from labor. We read, “23 Jesus went through the wheat fields on the Sabbath. As the disciples made their way, they were picking the heads of wheat. 24 The Pharisees said to Jesus, “Look! Why are they breaking the Sabbath law?” 25 He said to them, “Haven’t you ever read what David did when he was in need, when he and those with him were hungry? 26 During the time when Abiathar was high priest, David went into God’s house and ate the bread of the presence, which only the priests were allowed to eat. He also gave bread to those who were with him.” 27 Then he said, “The Sabbath was created for humans; humans weren’t created for the Sabbath. 28 This is why the Human One is Lord even over the Sabbath.” (Mark 2:23-28) Jesus recognized not only the importance of taking a break (taking a sabbath) but also recognized that rest and renewal in life are gifts from God to be cherished.
Dear Lord, amidst the hustle and bustle of life, grant us the wisdom to know when it’s time to take a break, so that we might relax, recharge, restore, and renew ourselves in services to you and to others. AMEN.
the harlequin complex 