Mark 6 30-44 The Return of the Twelve 7-23-06
You most likely have noticed different information on an upcoming nation wide program call Why Catholic? If not, let me know after Mass and I’ll make sure you get the scoop.
The program was developed by an organization called Renew International under the direction of the USCCB (United States Conference of Catholic Bishops). The basic mission of the program is to Renew and enhance the Catholic Faith experience.
There are different resources and tools that are used to do this, but the one that is in the for front is the implementation of small faith sharing groups. And a part of the small groups experience is the reading of Scripture. With a added dynamic, while one listens to the readings you are asked to pick out a word, phrase, feeling or question that might of stood out for you based on the reading. After making your choice you are invited to reflect on it silently or share it with the group.
The reason I bring this up is; this way of listening to scriptures and to a homily, as far as that goes, can be pretty much the same in different instances. Whether you are in a small group or large, such as today at Mass. Whether you reflect and share it with a small group; or you take put it in your pocket, so to speak, and carry the thought with you during the week. And every once in awhile, while you’re driving someplace or have some other opportunity, you bring it to mind and reflect on what this specific idea means for your faith life and/or the type faith response it is calling you to.
I’m going to assume most of you are not prepared to share with the congregation your thoughts on today’s gospel. So, unless I see a hand go up, I’ve done the choosing of a line form the Gospel for you, and will share some my thoughts about the subject with you.
The disciples had just come back form their missionary journeys and Jesus tells them, “come away by yourselves to a disserted place and rest awhile”. Now what I’m going to share with you is more in the category of a Homily and includes a lot more information then most, including myself, would “carry around in my pocket’ all week. But again I invite you to take a small part of it home with you when Mass is over.
Come away and rest awhile. Hum… what a nice idea. In fact it is beyond nice it is an essential if we wish to function efficiently as human beings and especially as daughters and sons of the Lord. It is kind of amusing that even the Son of God had to get up early in the morning, before anyone else, to find some quiet time for prayer. Or put forth an extra effort to find the seclusion that would be conducive to prayer. And even in today’s gospel it is interesting to note, and kind of reassuring, that in spite of their efforts Jesus and his disciples couldn’t get away by themselves very easily either.
But, the point is, if Jesus found it necessary for himself and instructed his disciples of that day, before instant, high speed, extreme everything, to find time for quiet prayer and reflection…………. what does that tell us.
I think most everyone would agree we do need and would like to take some quiet prayerful time each day, but this is a commodity that does not come easily. And to some degree we each need some guidance and proper environment. In the interest of making the selection of a single though easier I will make one suggestion for you to consider although our Church offers us many ways to come to know the Lord.
Based on today’s gospel reading I would invite you to consider incorporating Eucharistic Adoration into your faith practices. Although we are somewhat programmed by society to have to be doing something. The thought of just sitting in a church doesn’t seem to be very worthwhile. But during Eucharistic Adoration another dynamic is added we are not just sitting there. But, we are in the presence of the Son of God, and just as our other relationships develop when we are in the presence of another person so too with Jesus.
Our Churches really provide us with an excellent opportunity to answers Jesus’ invitation in today’s gospel, “to come away and rest awhile”. Weather it is during the right of Eucharistic Exposition or in private visits to the Blessed Sacrament. This is an invitation we should take very seriously if we want, above all things, to know love and serve the Lord in this world and be with him throughout eternity in the next.
The small faith group secession, which are beginning this Fall, closes with a prayer this is the one for the 16th Sunday in Ordinary Time:
Jesus our shepherd, sometimes the business of our lives is matched only be the fatigue that creeps in upon us.
When we grow weary help us to have the wisdom to stop, even if briefly, to sit a while with you and listen to you.
In our rest, open our eyes anew to the many around us who need a touch, a word, or a companion, and grant us the grace to respond with generous compassion as we have seen you do. Amen