Believing, Belonging and Becoming through Christ

21/07/2024 Year B Mass Book

Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time 2024 Year B

“COME AWAY! REST FOR A WHILE.”

Jesus said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest awhile”. This is a wonderful picture of the concern, gentleness, and wisdom of Jesus. After the disciples told him all they did and taught, Jesus did not grade their efforts. And the Lord did not immediately give them their next ministry assignment. Jesus was most concerned about the toll their ministry efforts had on them. So, he bid them to get away from the crowd, retreat to a quiet place, and rest. As weak people, we need regular time of rest, refreshment, and relaxation.

Jesus called his disciples to rest after they wore themselves out doing kingdom business. This verse is not a call to take a break from your worldly pursuits. It is a spiritual challenge:

What percentage of life DO YOU GIVE REST for your soul and for meditation and what percentage for business? Obviously, everyone works as much as they can until they gain enough wages for life. Remember the work of the Lord. The divine work which is our Sunday worship.

Paul exhorts us all: “Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labour is not in vain”. May the Lord fill our congregations with saints who are so busy for the Lord that he bids us to Come Apart and Rest Awhile.