Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Nurturing the Soul

COME AWAY… AND REST A WHILE

Divine Creator, in the midst of the busyness of our lives, grant us the grace to find moments of stillness. Help us to quiet the noise around us that we may hear your gentle voice speaking to our hearts. Nourish us in the silence that we may replenish our spirits and offer more of ourselves in the service of others as missionary disciples. Guide us in our reflections, that we may find clarity and compassion in your presence.

Remember a time when you felt overwhelmed by busyness, but you were able to handle the situation better after prayer or silence.

Fr. McCahill praying in silence

Often it can be difficult to see the world around us when we are always busy running from one thing to the next. This can often hinder us from recognizing and responding to the needs of others before us. Maryknoll Father Robert McCahill, MM exemplifies what it means to slow down in order to see and then serve the needs of others. Located in Bangladesh, his ministry focuses on helping those children with disabilities and other health issues. He moves about from one rural village to the next, but he is never too busy to stop and listen to the concerns of the people. He keeps centered by getting up early when it is still dark to celebrate mass and pray in silence. By pausing from busyness, he is better able to really hear what people need, he is able to accompany them in their suffering. This is where he is most fulfilled in living out God’ mission of love. (Father Bob McCahill’s Annual Letter From Mission, maryknoll.org, Feb 4, 2014)

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 he 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. Mk 6:30-34

Jesus was not a lone ranger; he gathered with his friends throughout his life of ministry. The Gospel message was not meant to be a solitary undertaking. Jesus embodies this from the beginning in the holy family, then in the community of the twelve, and finally in the early Christian communities after the resurrection. They followed that pattern by gathering in fellowship to live out the Gospel. In this reading, Jesus instructs the disciples to take nothing for the journey. But even so, they must not go alone. As missionary disciples, we are also called to walk together in mission and bear fruit.

How has partnering with someone enhanced your ministry or living out the Gospel, rather than doing it alone?

Post in your social media (or bring to in-person community) this question: “How do you or a person you consider to be a leader speak truth to power in your community?” Based on the responses you get, consider starting a social media group (or in-person group) to see how you can establish common coalitions around similar issues.

Almighty God, in this moment of quiet, nurture our spirits for the journey ahead. Grant us the grace to serve others with compassion and kindness. May the stillness we’ve embraced empower us to embody your love in all that we do. Guide our steps as we navigate the busyness of life, always mindful of your presence.