May the Lord bless you with peace and health in the Holy Spirit.
It is 18th July 2021. We celebrate the 16th Sunday of Ordinary time.
We reflect on Jeremiah 23:1-6; Ephesians 2:13-18 and the Gospel of Mark 6:30-34.
The readings remind us about the need for returning to the restful pastures the Lord has prepared for us. In the first reading, God promises the people of Israel that God would provide rest by bringing them back from all the countries and bring them back to their pastures. “Then I myself will gather the remnant of my flock out of all the lands.” Jesus is our peace and rest indeed says St. Paul in the second reading.
The responsorial Psalm beautifully describes: “The Lord is my shepherd, there is nothing I shall want. He leads me to green pastures.” (Ps.23:1).
In the Gospel, Jesus invites the apostles to come away for a while to rest, reset and recuperate themselves to be compassionate and merciful healers.
A man comes from a beautiful Island. He loved the sand and smell of the land. He was not ready to leave the place for any reason. At his death bed, he asked the family to fill his palms with the sand of the beautiful beach and to be buried. As he reached the gates of Heaven, his entry was denied until he let go of the sand and smell of the island. The moment he dropped them, he entered and enjoyed the unbelievably beautiful space. What are we holding on to prevent enjoying the rest? What is the “handful of sand” that we are still clinging to?
It is the continuation of the last week of the Gospel sending them in pairs. After the successful mission, it is the reporting back time with Jesus. Even at that time, people wanted attention, love, healing, and compassion.
Jesus wished to listen to faith sharing and experience of the apostle and asking them to come to a deserted place. A Day to be with the Lord, family and with one another.
Why do we need to rest? Because some of us are physically tired and some others are spiritually tired. About 45 per cent of UAE residents have sleep disorders reports Khaleej Times News Paper. Difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep due to daytime function. When we do not rest enough, our relationships suffer from one another. It not only leads to physical, mental complications but spiritual too. When we have deprived ourselves of the rest that is due, we get irritated, angry and upset about every little thing. Racing minds and exhausted workloads causing us a lot.
Spiritual rest is so vital for the rest of the function. “Come to me, all who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” (Mt.11:28). Spiritual life uplifts other areas of our life. “God blessed the seventh day and made it holy because on it he rested from all the work of creation he had done” (Gen.2:2). In Revelation 14:13, “They will rest from their labour for their deeds will follow them.”
Resting means coming closer to Christ and leaving all the addictive and clinging elements of our life. Enjoying peace in Jesus is the true rest.
Hebrew chapter speaks in length about the rest every believer deserves. “For we who have believed do enter into that rest.” (Heb.4:3). Being with the Lord and ourselves is the true rest. We need to learn to rest with the Lord. Giving a summary of our life to the Lord. “Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will perish by following their example of disobedience.” (Heb.4:11).
It is summer. People are going on vacation. Resting is understood today on a different level. It is not vising places and travelling place after place rather relax and be with oneself. Some of our holidays are so packed, we come home unpacked of our emotional baggage and struggles. A full package of activities during the holidays we all look for. Then when we return, we are more tired than before at times.
Whenever we return from work, tour, and achievement, we would like to brag about and become a chatterbox. If our work turns to be not that successful, we go into silence and indifference ill-treating and demeaning others.
In 1799 Napoleon Bonaparte return to Parish from Egypt with the unsuccessful campaign. To compensate for his loss, he appointed the First Consul, he worked 16 hours and expected the council of state to have the same energy and stamina. “Let us keep awake, citizens. It is only two o’clock in the morning. We must earn our salaries. Some of his admirers used to praise him like this: “God made Bonaparte and then rested. Listening to the applause, an old man remarked: “God should have rested a little earlier.”
“Come away to some lonely place all by yourselves and rest for a while.” This is to regularize the unending visits of people and the Apostles could not even have time to eat.
We all need a space to celebrate our individuality and value our personal space.
We all need our privacy that needs to be the priority for peaceful and prosperous living indeed.
Unless we rest, we cannot recuperate. Without enough rest and recuperation, it is not possible to feel the pain of others and show some compassion. When schedules, plans, meetings, and work have encroached on our life so much, we find it hard to rest.
For some of us, rest is nearly impossible. Some consider resting as sinful escapism and laziness.
Jesus never wished for His Apostles to be machines working round the clock. Even machines need overhauling periodically and maintenance time.
To experience the quietness and calmness we do not need to embark on a journey that is expensive rather find time and space affordable within our means to be ourselves.
Retreating is not madness or sickness. When we are alone, we are so afraid and find it hard to cope.
At times, children and your wife will be on holiday, you will be sitting here staring at things that do not make you happy.
When we are taught to work and value work, it is hard to embrace rest and restoration.
In this week, as we are looking forward to celebrating the Eid holidays, let us rest, relax, and reset our restful timings so as to bear fruit. May God bless you.