Psalm 23:1-3a. 3b-4.5.6;
Mark 6:30-34 Full Readings
Come Away and Rest
Today we come to the final reading of the Letter to the Hebrews. The letter has dealt with various issues but most especially focusing on the high priesthood of Jesus, showing that the purpose of the old sacrifices and the rituals of the Old Law has been so much better fulfilled by the once and for all sacrifice and the blood of Christ. Now in concluding the Letter (esp. from Ch 12 - last four readings) the author turns to the practical advice and encouragement to the recipients of the letter and all of us in general. Today, he gives us these pieces of advice: to always have the unending sacrifice of praise of Christ, to keep on doing good works and sharing our resources (genuine acts of charity and Christian generosity) and finally to obey our religious leaders.
Talking of obeying our religious leaders, it is always right and just to follow what they teach us and where they guide us to, with clear conscience and discernment, provided that they lead us to communion with God. These people have been specifically chosen by God to shepherd his people so that we may not look like sheep without a shepherd (today's gospel) and they are to give an account of how they lead God's people to him. Our role as Christians is to make their work easier by supporting them in every aspect, obeying them and accepting to be led by them to God.
In the words of St John Mary Vianney, "What would be the use of a house full of gold, if you had nobody to open [you] the door! The priest has the key of heavenly treasures; it is he who opens the door; he is the steward of the good God, the distributor of His wealth. Without the priest, the Death and Passion of our Lord would be of no avail." And again he says "After God, the priest is everything. Leave a parish twenty years without priests; they will worship beasts. If Father was to go away, you would say, "What can we do in this church? there is no Mass; Our Lord is no longer there: we may as well pray at home. When people wish to destroy religion, they begin by attacking the priest, because where there is no longer any priest there is no sacrifice, and where there is no longer any sacrifice there is no religion." This shows the importance of our religious leaders. As our today's first reading encourages, let us obey them, love them, support them and above all pray for them to be good shepherds.
Our religious leaders in turn should do their part, trying by the help of the Holy Spirit, to live by the vocation to which they are called and performing their responsibilities and duties. One of the ways of doing this is to be, to rest in and with Jesus at all times and doing the will of God. We see Jesus in today's gospel calling his Apostles after returning from preaching in the countryside to come away and rest. Unfortunately, things could not go as planned when Jesus' heart felt pity for the crowd which looked like sheep without a shepherd. Two things Jesus is teaching us today as ministers and servants of our fellows:
Firstly, Jesus asks us to stop sometimes as well, to recharge our spiritual and emotional batteries. Our rest might be a stop in the Adoration chapel for some peaceful silence, a “time out” from the computer and phone to read a good book, a nature walk, or a literal eyes-closed rest, and above all to take our Sunday rest seriously to praise and glorify God but als meet and commune with friends and family and attend to our spiritual needs. He asks us to do all these things “with him.” Do you rest with Him, or are there other ways you spend your rest?
Secondly, Jesus shows us that whether we are resting or not God's will must always take precedence in our lives. Jesus' rest was interrupted by a crowd thirsty of God's word. He forwent his rest and ministered to them. He always invites us to do so. There are many times when a parent may only want to be alone for a while, and yet family concerns arise that need their attention. Priests and religious may also have unexpected duties that arise from their ministry that can, at first, appear to interrupt their plans. The same can be said for any vocation or situation in life. We may think we need one thing, but then duty calls and we find we are needed in a different way. Jesus encourages to put charity and service of others as a priority for this is always the will of God. St. John Paul II taught what he called the law of the gift: “We become most truly human in the measure in which we go out of ourselves and give ourselves for the sake of others.” This means we find true meaning and joy in our lives precisely to the degree that we give our lives away to God and others.
Reflect, today, upon the true needs of those around you. Are there people who would greatly benefit from your time and attention today? Are there needs that others have that will require you to change your plans and to give of yourself in a way that is difficult? Do not hesitate to give generously of yourself to others. In fact, this form of charity is not only transforming for those whom we serve, it is often one of the most restful and rejuvenating activities we can also do for ourselves.
Let us Pray
Jesus, thank you for the experience of your love and tenderness toward me. Thank you for listening to me, for receiving me whenever I come to you, and for inviting me to rest in you. Give me the strength to continue loving, even when I am tired of loving and serving. I want to simply gaze into your eyes and, from there, learn to see the people and reality around me as you do. Open my eyes and my heart. Thank you, Lord, for your shepherding love. Amen
Be blessed
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