The WORD today (see http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/072218.cfm) 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 to our relationship, my girlfriend 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. 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 22, 2018
Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary
Time
Lectionary: 107
Lectionary: 107
Reading 1 JER
23:1-6
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."
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 PS 23:1-3,
3-4, 5, 6
R. (1) 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.
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.
Reading 2 EPH
2:13-18
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.
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 JN 10:27
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
My sheep hear my voice, says the Lord;
I know them, and they follow me.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
My sheep hear my voice, says the Lord;
I know them, and they follow me.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
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 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
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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