After the intensity of their first mission, the Apostles return to Jesus, bursting with stories of what they had done. Jesus, the perfect Sh...
After the intensity of their first mission, the Apostles return to Jesus, bursting with stories of what they had done. Jesus, the perfect Shepherd, sees their exhaustion. He doesn't demand a report; He says, "Come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while." He invites them into Solitude. Jesus knows that if we "give out" without "taking in," we eventually run dry.
However, the world doesn't always respect our boundaries. The crowds see where they are going and get there first. Most of us would be frustrated—imagine trying to start your vacation only to find your office staff waiting for you at the airport! But Jesus’ reaction is different. He sees the crowd and has "pity on them, for they were like sheep without a shepherd."
To respond with that kind of compassion, we need what Solomon asks for in today’s first reading: Sagacity, or spiritual wisdom. When God tells Solomon he can have anything, Solomon asks for a "heart to understand how to discern between good and evil." He realizes that to lead people, he doesn't need more gold; he needs a heart that beats in sync with God’s heart.
This is the cycle of the Christian life: we go into solitude to find God, and we come back to the crowd to bring God to them. If we only stay in the crowd, we become resentful and tired. If we only stay in solitude, we become selfish.
Today, Jesus is inviting you to "rest a while" in this Eucharist. Let Him be your Shepherd. Ask Him for the wisdom of Solomon so that when you leave this church and face the "crowds" of your daily responsibilities, you won't see them as a burden, but as people who need the same love and direction that you have received from Him.
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