Every Sunday, Bishop Edward Malesic writes a Scripture reflection for the faithful. Follow the bishop on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Click HERE for the readings.
After several days of hard work, Jesus said to his apostles, “Come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.”
Don’t all of us need to take the time for a bit of spiritual renewal and rest? After working hard, we need to take the time to get away from it all. Sometimes we are able to take a multi-day retreat at a spiritual center or monastery, but not all of us are so fortunate because of family obligations and other reasons.
Still, we can take a break from work. We can carve out a few moments for a “mini-retreat” each day: turn off the television or put down our phone and tablet for a half-hour or so. We can drive to work without the radio on. We can go for a quiet walk or sit on the back porch in the early morning. For many, even a short nap can be restorative after a long day.
The Lord wants us to put a “mini retreat” into our schedule too. Think about the third commandment that enjoins us to keep holy the Sabbath. For us, as Christians, our day of Sabbath rest is Sunday. Every week should include a day, like Sunday, of getting away from the grind of our routine to rest with the Lord for a while.
Once upon a time this was easier to observe. For those of us who remember the blue laws of years gone by, many stores were closed on Sundays so that we could go to Mass in the morning, have breakfast or lunch with the family afterwards, and then enjoy a more leisurely Sunday afternoon without the distractions that came to us during the other six days of the week. I long for those days. Our society was much healthier then, I believe.
In any case, make sure to get some rest: if not Sunday because of work obligations, then some other time. And if not for an entire day, at least for a few minutes each day. To get away by yourself to a deserted place and rest a while does a person (body and soul) good. And, if you are drawn to it during your time of rest, say a prayer for the people of your parish and those in our diocesan Church. I would certainly appreciate it.
Have a blessed week everyone (and make sure to get some rest for a while).