Click here for daily readingsAt the end of a long journey, we can feel both exhaustion and fulfillment. Imagine the Apostles’ feeling of encouragement and achievement as they gather back together after their long trip, moving about the land teaching and healing in Jesus’ name. Tired and hungry and unable to rest because of the crowd of people who followed them, Jesus sends them out to a deserted place to recover. They get into a boat, but it isn’t a yacht or a motor boat. It is more work, rowing to get across the water to rest. As they are rowing, excited that their time of rest is drawing near, over 5,000 people show up craving Jesus’ teaching.
We all like a few days to recuperate after a journey, yet the Apostles had no time to rest. Imagine the wonder and exhaustion they felt. They are with Jesus, their Lord and Savior, but they are human, and as humans we can get testy if we don’t have time to rest. If there were 5,000 people waiting for us when we returned home after a long trip, we would go inside, close the door, and tell them to come back later. But the Apostles had a front row seat to the teachings of Jesus, and they worked tirelessly.
We are all called to proclaim the Word, but we don’t have to do it on such a grand scale. We don’t have to go out with only the clothes on our back and the shoes on our feet with no extra food and water for the journey. We can share our experiences one on one with those closest to us in our homes, at work, and among friends. It can be difficult to begin, and unlike the 5,000 people who were waiting to hear from Jesus and the Apostles, others might not be ready to hear it from us. But we can start out on the journey one prayer at a time and ask for the Lord’s help. We can go to adoration, our “deserted place,” and fill our hearts up with the Lord who will encourage and energize each of us to continue on our own journey.
Al final de un largo viaje, podemos sentir tanto agotamiento como plenitud. Imaginen el sentimiento de ánimo y logro de los Apóstoles al reunirse tras su largo viaje, recorriendo la tierra enseñando y sanando en el nombre de Jesús. Cansados, hambrientos e incapaces de descansar por la multitud que los seguía, Jesús los envía a un lugar desierto para recuperarse. Suben a una barca, pero no es un yate ni una lancha. Remar para cruzar el agua y descansar es más trabajo. Mientras reman, emocionados por la proximidad de su hora de descanso, más de 5000 personas aparecen ansiando las enseñanzas de Jesús.
A todos nos gusta descansar unos días después de un viaje, pero los Apóstoles no tuvieron tiempo para ello. Imaginen la maravilla y el agotamiento que sintieron. Están con Jesús, su Señor y Salvador, pero son humanos, y como humanos, podemos irritarnos si no tenemos tiempo para descansar. Si 5000 personas nos esperaran al regresar a casa después de un largo viaje, entraríamos, cerraríamos la puerta y les diríamos que volvieran más tarde. Pero los Apóstoles tenían un asiento en primera fila para escuchar las enseñanzas de Jesús y trabajaron incansablemente.
Todos estamos llamados a proclamar la Palabra, pero no tenemos que hacerlo a gran escala. No tenemos que salir solo con la ropa puesta y los zapatos puestos, sin comida ni agua extra para el viaje. Podemos compartir nuestras experiencias individualmente con los seres queridos en nuestros hogares, en el trabajo y entre amigos. Puede ser difícil comenzar, y a diferencia de las 5000 personas que esperaban escuchar a Jesús y a los Apóstoles, otros podrían no estar listos para escucharlo de nosotros. Pero podemos emprender el camino con una oración a la vez y pedir la ayuda del Señor. Podemos ir a la adoración, nuestro “lugar desierto”, y llenar nuestros corazones del Señor, quien nos animará y nos dará energía para continuar en nuestro propio viaje.
Anita Renaghan is the author of several books including literary fiction, science fiction, and a young adult trilogy. She loves a good character study and has been many characters herself including: an aircraft mechanic in the Air Force, a college graduate, a second degree blackbelt, lost, a waitress and bartender, a wife and mother, an account executive, found, and a constantly inventive singer-songwriter. Anita is interested in sharing her faith with others through her writings and story characters. Her website is anitarenaghan.com
Feature Image Credit: Ashok J Kshetri, pexels.com/photo/scenic-view-of-upper-mustang-hills-in-nepal-34022827/
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Daily Reading
Saturday of the Fourth Week in Ordinary Time
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Saint of the Day
Saint Luke the Younger
Hermit and wonder-worker whose solitary hermitage in Thessaly, Greece, became known as the Soterion, “the place of healing.” The post Saint Luke the Younger appeared first on uCatholic.