"COME AWAY AND REST A LITTLE."

16^th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B.  Mark 5:30-34.

AIM: To help the hearers find spiritual refreshment amid the busy-ness of life. 

AWhat goes up must come down.@ This familiar saying is an example of life=s fundamental rhythm. We see this rhythm in breathing, in waking and sleeping, in the alternation of the seasons, of work and of rest. And we see it in today=s gospel.

The Twelve return to Jesus after a time of arduous labor, to report Aall that they had done and taught.@ Jesus knew that after this strenuous activity they needed to withdraw C time, we would say today, to recharge their spiritual batteries. Those who preach the gospel can give to others only what they themselves have received. The apostles have given. Now they need to receive. So Jesus invites them to Acome away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a little.@

We all need such times of refreshment. The most important hour of my day is the half-hour I spend here in church, waiting in silence on the Lord, and the Mass which follows. Without that time with the Lord who called me to his service on my ordination day, over 61years ago, I=d just be spinning my wheels. 

         This need for periodic withdrawal and rest was the reason for God=s third commandment: ARemember to keep holy the Sabbath.@ The way we fulfill that commandment, and even the day, have changed since Jesus= time. The Christian Sabbath is not Saturday, as it was for Jesus. It is Sunday, the day Jesus was raised from the dead. Every Sunday is Aa little Easter.@ We Akeep holy@ this Christian Sabbath by obeying Jesus= command to Ado this in my memory.@ As we give thanks to God over the bread and wine, God changes them through the power of his Holy Spirit into the body and blood of his risen Son. When we receive these now transformed gifts, we are filled with all the power, goodness, and love of God himself. We call the celebration in which we do this Athe Eucharist@, a word which comes from the Greek word for Athanksgiving.@

Once again, we, the Lord=s holy people, have gathered on the Lord=s day for this celebration of Christian thanksgiving. For a time we step aside from the demands, the worries, the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Like the apostles in today=s gospel, we are following Jesus= invitation to come away and rest a little. The place in which we gather is Aholy@: it has been set apart from everyday use and dedicated to God. We need this time together, as God=s people, with him. We need the nourishment he gives us here at his two tables; the table of the word, and the sacramental table of the Lord=s body and blood. AThe Sunday celebration of the Lord=s Day and his Eucharist,@ the Catechism says, Ais at the heart of the Church=s life.@ (No. 2177)

What about the quality of our worship? Sometimes it is good to step back and to see ourselves as others see us. A missionary priest, returning from Africa, writes about the Aculture shock@ he experienced on coming home. AOne takes from Africa scenes of overflowing churches, of liturgies that last for two hours, of 25 infant baptisms each Saturday in a typical parish. So many of the church buildings in the United States are new and modern, huge and beautiful. Yet one is often disappointed with the services, the singing, the participation. Many of the large churches are, at most, half filled for the Sunday Masses. Time rules the liturgy C it must be swift and efficient. Few people will put up with more than a 10-minute sermon. For there is so much to do on Sunday C driving, shopping, reading the Sunday papers, watching football or even work.@ [J. Peter Schineller, ACulture shock on returning to America@, in: America June 29, 1991, pp. 676-678, at 677]

There is much to think about there. Are we truly Akeeping holy@ the Sabbath C setting it apart as time for God? Are we following Jesus= invitation to Acome away and rest a while@? Or are we just here to Aget our card punched@ C and then on to more important things? Jesus= invitation to Acome away and rest a little@ is not only for Sunday. We need such times of spiritual refreshment during the week as well. The busier we are, the greater our need.  How can we find them?  Here are a few suggestions.

In every life, no matter how crowded, there are empty times C times when we must wait. We wait in the check-out line at the supermarket. We wait in traffic, at the post office, at the bank, dentist, or doctor. We walk to and from the car at our place of work, or at a shopping center. Such empty periods in the day can be turned into Atimes for God.@ As you wait, as you walk to or from the car, lift up your heart and mind to God. Hold up to him those whom you love. Ask him to bless them in the way he knows they need to be blessed. Hold yourself before your heavenly Father with all your weakness and need, all the loose ends in your life, your brokenness, compromises, failures. Long prayers are not necessary. Simple, short prayers are best.

AJesus, help me.@ AMy Lord and my God.@ ALord Jesus, I love you.@  AGood Physician, make me whole.@ AMary, mother, bless your child@

Or simply the holy names, AJesus, Mary, Joseph@ C or the holy name of Jesus alone, repeated with every step, every breath, every heartbeat: all these are perfect prayers that go straight to the loving heart of our heavenly Father.

It is even possible to turn your car into a place apart where you can rest in God=s presence. As you drive down the highway, turn off the radio and pray the rosary. Or use one of the short prayers I have just suggested. Even better, create places apart, times for God, at work or at home. Turn off the television and turn to God. Reach for your Bible, your rosary, or a prayer book instead of for a cigarette or magazine. Take part of your lunch hour or coffee break at work to follow Jesus= invitation to Acome away and rest a while@ with him. Each time you do so, you will find him there, waiting for you. 

The more often you make time for the Lord in your life, the more you will discover that the words of today=s responsorial psalm are true C true for you:

AThe 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.@