SATURDAY OF THE FOURTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME, FEBRUARY 3, 2024

Mass Readings:

Gospel

Mk 6:30-34

The Apostles gathered together with Jesus

and reported all they had done and taught.

He said to them,

“Come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.”

People were coming and going in great numbers,

and they had no opportunity even to eat.

So they went off in the boat by themselves to a deserted place.

People saw them leaving and many came to know about it.

They hastened there on foot from all the towns

and arrived at the place before them.

When Jesus disembarked and saw the vast crowd,

his heart was moved with pity for them,

for they were like sheep without a shepherd;

and he began to teach them many things.

REFLECTION

"Come away by yourselves to a lonely place and rest a while."

Rest is the answer to many of my problems.

Jesus, God made man, experienced great fatigue after long hours of preaching.

He went off to deserted places to be alone with God. He slept soundly at the stern during the storm.

And now, He tells the apostles after a long day's work to find rest. "Come away by yourselves to a lonely place and rest a while."

My imperfections most likely will accompany me to my death. I can try and do much to make them less and less. Fatigue and lack of strength seem to give them ammunition-- a cause to be impolite, rude, uncaring and impatient. It allows my impetuousness to commandeer my responses.

All we do for God is a source of sanctification. My fatigue as well as my response to tiredness can be a source of sanctification. In humility I should ask for help, in my pride I should realize that I cannot do all things though my mind and will tell me otherwise. In my abandonment to God I can rest in His arms and sleep, allowing my good thoughts to take root and be inflamed by the Holy Spirit. I can be a better person by not chastising, making hateful comments, reacting negatively to someone. If I have rested in God I should be able, with His Will, to know when to keep my mouth shut.

With rest I can be gentle and charitable, resilient with fortitude to meet people where they are. Perhaps my actions can help me share Jesus with others. Most important it is a chance to be with God, my own personal encounter with God to be shared with all I meet.

When we see a priest praying or resting in the pew in front of the Lord, allow him time to rest, recharge and be with the Holy Spirit. Imagine the graces he receives to set souls on fire. Remember as persona Christi, he intercedes for us. Pray the prayer for priests for him. Rest yourselves in prayer.

Happy Dreams !

God bless you