The Catholic Calendar
and Daily Meditation
Saturday, February 4, 2012
Saturday of the Fourth Week in Ordinary Time
Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
http://new.usccb.org/bible/readings/020412.cfm
1 Kings 3:4-13
Psalm 119:9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14
Mark 6:30-34
A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:
In today's Gospel, Jesus demonstrates that He is aware of what His apostles need and offers them a remedy: "Come away by yourselves," He says, "to a deserted place and rest a while."
The words here are very important because they give us real information about what being a follower of Jesus involves - not only long hours, but a need to attend to the human needs for food, for rest.
At first this seems in opposition to the example of the saints who all seem to have worn themselves out in service to the Lord, but if we closely examine the words Jesus used, we discover how the Apostles, saints and even we are to be rejuvenated.
We are to come away by ourselves to a deserted place and rest a while. Coming and not going indicates that our movement is toward a place of rest which doesn't necessarily mean that we go away from where we have responsibilities and obligations and rest for a while.
Now, all of this doesn't sound like how I would like to get my batteries recharged. I would like to go to Hawaii with my husband and stay at least a couple of weeks. That's my idea of getting away!
I know however, that I can't go to Hawaii and so I must find paradise some other place. "Come to me," says the Lord, "and I will give you rest."
That is the real remedy. Come to the Lord in interior silence and solitude. Come to where the King of Paradise resides and all things are possible, like resting for even the shortest of time, being fed on the Bread of Life and strengthened and rested to take up our cross again, to come and follow Him.
::: Donna Raye Nelson, OCDS | email: drn3rd(at)hughes(dot)net
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