"Come away by yourselves to a lonely place, and rest a while." (Mk 6:31)
Jesus and his apostles had been so busy, they didn't have time for themselves. We are called to have compassion on others and share their pain. Caregivers will reach a point where they don't have anything left to give.
We must have balance in our lives and know where to find renewal. Prayer is often put in the last place even though we need it the most. It is the category of important but not urgent in comparison to the urgent tasks that daily present themselves. Without scheduling this time of rest, it simply won't happen. We can't give what we don't have. In order to give Christ, we must fill ourselves up with him by prayer and sacrament. St. Francis de Sales said, "Every one of us needs half an hour of prayer a day, except when we are busy-then we need an hour."
Questions for Reflection:
- Does a day go by in my life without prayer?
- Do I renew myself by distractions (Netflix, social media) or spending time with Christ?
- Do the words, "Without me you can do nothing" (Jn15:5) convince me of the need to turn to Christ and rely on his strength?
