July 18, 2021: 16th Sunday B
When the disciples of Jesus returned from their lengthy apostolic mission, they were hoping to share their stories of conversion and miracles with Jesus and with each other. Jesus saw how his disciples were tired and were in need of rest and fellowship. He said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” So he took them by boat to a secluded place. In that boat ride, we can imagine that Jesus listened to them intently, gazed into their eyes with compassion, and gave them words of wisdom. In the short time they spent in the boat with Jesus, the disciples were nourished and their souls were at rest in the presence of Jesus. Unfortunately, their original plan to spend time by themselves at the secluded place had to be shelved when Jesus saw a crowd of weary people waiting at the shore as they disembarked from the boat. The disciples were restored in the short boat ride and were ready to assist Jesus in ministering to the people waiting at the shore. Little did they know, they would be helping Jesus to feed a crowd of 5,000.
Isn’t that the picture of our lives as well? We make a concerted effort to bring our children with us to Sunday mass, and only 10 minutes into the mass, one of the little ones fusses or wants to go to the bathroom. The sacred hour is spent attending to squirmy kids, we feel like we have not prayed. The same happens to us when we make an effort to pray. We sit in silence hoping to connect with Jesus, and there occurs in our mind a nagging thought that we can’t let go. At the end, we feel like we didn’t pray at all. Yet, in that short moment in which we decided to offer to spend time with Jesus at mass or in personal prayer time, the Holy Spirit prays in us, prays for us, and prays through us. Just imagine, in the Mass, the veil between heaven and earth is pulled back, and our Guardian Angels stand beside each of us to help us to worship with all the angels of Heaven our Heavenly Father and Our Lord Jesus Christ.
In the sacred time spent with Jesus, however short, he restores us, refocuses us, and transforms us. As we gaze on Jesus the Good Shepherd with the eyes of our faith, he helps us to reflect on who we have been, who we are now, and who Jesus desires us to be in the future. The Psalmist reminds us, “The LORD is my shepherd; I lack nothing. In verdant pastures he gives me repose; beside restful waters he leads me; he refreshes my soul… Even though I walk in the dark valley I fear no evil; for you are at my side.” Jesus knows we are weary, thirsty, and hungry from work and from relationships. He knows our cluttered lives--so many things to do, so many activities, so many responsibilities. Sometimes, it is our own doing that our lives are so cluttered with useless activities, pursuing after things we don’t need, and ignoring our responsibilities to love and forgive one another. There is no substitute for quality one-on-one time with a friend when we can sit down, look into the eyes of one another to talk. Prayer is like that —intentional, distraction free, heart-to-heart talk with our Lord Jesus.
If we have struggled with various emotions throughout this week, perhaps anger, frustrations, or unforgiveness, we will find in the nourishing words of the Divine Word and in the Eucharist, God’s forgiveness and restoration. We can never stray so far that God’s grace cannot embrace us. Oh how our soul desperately needs our time together with Jesus! Let us make intentional time with Jesus who will give us the grace to disarm ourselves, take down our defenses, and become vulnerable, little, silent, and poor. As we gradually share more deeply from the heart with him, we will come to realize that he is the one who guided us through the trials of life.
