February
6, 2016
After
the apostles got back from their mission trip, they wanted to tell their best
friend all about it. From my own experience when teens get back from a mission
trip they are not only excited to report every detail, but they themselves are
changed. They see the world with different eyes. Their experience of going out
and bringing the good news to people’s lives, homes, and through serving them
gives them a sense of great joy, satisfaction, and accomplishment. I imagine
the apostles had some doozy stories just like my friends and I have from our house
build trips. Picture them sitting around the fire pit at Peter’s house…Remember
that time when we drank bad well water and we all got the trots? Or how many
homes did you get kicked out of? Or witnessing true healing never gets old does
it? Or my favorite memory was when we played soccer in the street with all the
children from the village. Or we tried changing some water into wine just for
fun, but apparently we don’t have that skill down yet. Or when we had the trots
it sure would have been nice to have a second tunic, I’m just sayin’, Jesus!!
Or I ended up giving my only walking stick to an elderly woman who looked like
she could really use it. Or the kids stole our walking sticks to play sword
fighting. Or my stick broke when I was tried to pummel a scorpion that wanted
to kill me. And the stories carried on for days I’m sure.
Jesus
must have been so proud and pleased with his boys and he wanted to reward them
with a little mini-retreat of their own. Can you imagine how special a weekend
retreat would have been with Jesus himself as the facilitator?? One of the joys
of my job is to listen to all the retreat stories the week right after and to
just sit back and celebrate the workings of the Holy Spirit in the lives of his
children! The apostles needed to decompress after all the miraculous happenings
that they just experienced. Raise your hand if you’ve ever needed a retreat
just for yourself to get away and process your life. Jesus loved his alone time
and he was trying to teach his apostles the value of getting away on retreat.
LOVE!!!
The
only problem is that all the people that Jesus and his apostles had just
evangelized and set a fire in their souls were now their constant groupies and
they could not get enough of them and their ministry. They followed the troupe
faithfully and like the Beatles they were mobbed everywhere they went, even to
their secluded retreat. I’m sure the apostles might have been a little annoyed,
I probably would have been, but dear sweet Jesus was touched by his “little
sheep” wanting to follow their shepherd and he just couldn’t resist tending to
them, caring for them, and responding to them. When we go after Jesus, he will
not ignore us, he is not annoyed by our pleading, and like today’s gospel he is
moved with pity (mercy) for us.
Today’s
gospel reminds us of two things: we need to take time away in order to process
the workings of the Holy Spirit in our lives, and Jesus will always respond to
us with mercy and kindness. Take a few moments in gratitude that we are never
lost sheep no matter how far away we feel. Have a blessed day.
Reading 1 1 KGS 3:4-13
Solomon went to Gibeon to sacrifice there,
because that was the most renowned high place.
Upon its altar Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings.
In Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream at night.
God said, “Ask something of me and I will give it to you.”
Solomon answered:
“You have shown great favor to your servant, my father David,
because he behaved faithfully toward you,
with justice and an upright heart;
and you have continued this great favor toward him, even today,
seating a son of his on his throne.
O LORD, my God, you have made me, your servant,
king to succeed my father David;
but I am a mere youth, not knowing at all how to act.
I serve you in the midst of the people whom you have chosen,
a people so vast that it cannot be numbered or counted.
Give your servant, therefore, an understanding heart
to judge your people and to distinguish right from wrong.
For who is able to govern this vast people of yours?”
The LORD was pleased that Solomon made this request.
So God said to him: “Because you have asked for this–
not for a long life for yourself,
nor for riches, nor for the life of your enemies,
but for understanding so that you may know what is right–
I do as you requested.
I give you a heart so wise and understanding
that there has never been anyone like you up to now,
and after you there will come no one to equal you.
In addition, I give you what you have not asked for,
such riches and glory that among kings there is not your like.”
because that was the most renowned high place.
Upon its altar Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings.
In Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream at night.
God said, “Ask something of me and I will give it to you.”
Solomon answered:
“You have shown great favor to your servant, my father David,
because he behaved faithfully toward you,
with justice and an upright heart;
and you have continued this great favor toward him, even today,
seating a son of his on his throne.
O LORD, my God, you have made me, your servant,
king to succeed my father David;
but I am a mere youth, not knowing at all how to act.
I serve you in the midst of the people whom you have chosen,
a people so vast that it cannot be numbered or counted.
Give your servant, therefore, an understanding heart
to judge your people and to distinguish right from wrong.
For who is able to govern this vast people of yours?”
The LORD was pleased that Solomon made this request.
So God said to him: “Because you have asked for this–
not for a long life for yourself,
nor for riches, nor for the life of your enemies,
but for understanding so that you may know what is right–
I do as you requested.
I give you a heart so wise and understanding
that there has never been anyone like you up to now,
and after you there will come no one to equal you.
In addition, I give you what you have not asked for,
such riches and glory that among kings there is not your like.”
Responsorial Psalm PS 119:9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14
R. (12b) Lord, teach me your statutes.
How shall a young man be faultless in his way?
By keeping to your words.
R. Lord, teach me your statutes.
With all my heart I seek you;
let me not stray from your commands.
R. Lord, teach me your statutes.
Within my heart I treasure your promise,
that I may not sin against you.
R. Lord, teach me your statutes.
Blessed are you, O LORD;
teach me your statutes.
R. Lord, teach me your statutes.
With my lips I declare
all the ordinances of your mouth.
R. Lord, teach me your statutes.
In the way of your decrees I rejoice,
as much as in all riches.
R. Lord, teach me your statutes.
My sheep hear my voice, says the Lord;
I know them, and they follow me.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
How shall a young man be faultless in his way?
By keeping to your words.
R. Lord, teach me your statutes.
With all my heart I seek you;
let me not stray from your commands.
R. Lord, teach me your statutes.
Within my heart I treasure your promise,
that I may not sin against you.
R. Lord, teach me your statutes.
Blessed are you, O LORD;
teach me your statutes.
R. Lord, teach me your statutes.
With my lips I declare
all the ordinances of your mouth.
R. Lord, teach me your statutes.
In the way of your decrees I rejoice,
as much as in all riches.
R. Lord, teach me your statutes.
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.
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 Jesus 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 Jesus 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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