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Sunday, July 18, 2021

Time Alone



The WORD today reminds me how important it is to have time alone with God. 

People are generally excited about new things. When there’s a new restaurant, a new sport, or a new place, we want to go there to experience it. However, the excitement doesn’t last, and sometimes, because of too much excitement and having too much of something too soon, people get bored after a while. This is probably why when we were new in our relationship, my then girlfriend (now wife) used to say that we also need to have time for ourselves. Yes, it’s always fun and nice to spend time with each other and get to know each other, but we also need time apart. This is true, as we deal with people and with God.

We need time alone with God.

In the gospel, after doing the task given them, Jesus told the apostles to go off and have time alone. To have time with themselves. To rest. To have time with God. This is important for us as well.

It is easy to get lost in the busyness of life. It is easy to be so focused on your career, business or anything in this world, that we forget how important it is to spend time alone with God and to recharge. It is easy to get so stressed with this pandemic. Getting some rest is not a waste of time, for it should nourish and enable us to come back stronger, to continue what we do, and to be able to give our best in what we do.

As we rest, as we spend time for ourselves and with God, we should remember that God will take care of things as well. In the gospel, when Jesus told his apostles to rest, he took care of the people who were going to the apostles. This means that as we rest in Him, as we give importance to Him, he will take care of the things we leave behind. He will take care of the things we cannot do. As we give importance to God, he assures us that he will take care of things in our life.

Do I regularly spend time alone with God? Why not? What hinders me from this? What excuse do I give God for not having time alone with Him? Is my time alone with God intimate and useful? How can I improve my time alone with God? What does he want me to start doing today?

May we have the humility to submit and rest in Him, and have faith that as we do so, he will continue to take care of things.

Father God,
Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another Sunday. Thank you for the reminder. Lord, sorry for the times I get so busy and get lost in the things of the world. sorry for thinking that it is a waste of time to rest and be with you. sorry for not giving you the importance you deserve. Sorry for making a lot of excuses why I do not spend time with you. Help me change that. Help me improve my time alone with you. Help me improve my relationship with you. I come to you, surrendering my life and my plans. I come to you to rest. I come to you for nourishment. I ask that you continue to bless me, empower me, and strengthen me as I do your work. I know you will take care of other things as I spend time with you. Amen.

Blessed Sunday!

In Christ,
-g-

July 18, 2021
16th Sunday in Ordinary Time; St. Camillus de Lellis

FIRST READING

Woe to the shepherds who mislead and scatter the flock of my pasture, says the LORD. Therefore, thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, against the shepherds who shepherd my people: You have scattered my sheep and driven them away. You have not cared for them, but I will take care to punish your evil deeds. I myself will gather the remnant of my flock from all the lands to which I have driven them and bring them back to their meadow; there they shall increase and multiply. I will appoint shepherds for them who will shepherd them so that they need no longer fear and tremble; and none shall be missing, says the LORD. 

Behold, the days are coming, says the LORD, when I will raise up a righteous shoot to David; as king he shall reign and govern wisely, he shall do what is just and right in the land. In his days Judah shall be saved, Israel shall dwell in security. This is the name they give him: “The LORD our justice.”

RESPONSORIAL PSALM

R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want. 

The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. In verdant pastures he gives me repose; beside restful waters he leads me; he refreshes my soul. 

R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want. 

He guides me in right paths for his name’s sake. Even though I walk in the dark valley I fear no evil; for you are at my side with your rod and your staff that give me courage. 

R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want. 

You spread the table before me in the sight of my foes; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 

R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want. 

Only goodness and kindness follow me all the days of my life; and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD for years to come. 

R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.

SECOND READING

Brothers and sisters:
In Christ Jesus you who once were far off have become near by the blood of Christ. 

For he is our peace, he who made both one and broke down the dividing wall of enmity, through his flesh, abolishing the law with its commandments and legal claims, that he might create in himself one new person in place of the two, thus establishing peace, and might reconcile both with God, in one body, through the cross, putting that enmity to death by it. He came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near, for through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father.

ALLELUIA

R. Alleluia, alleluia. 

My sheep hear my voice, says the Lord; I know them, and they follow me. 

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

GOSPEL

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.

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