July 18-19, 2009
Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Jeremiah 23:1-6 Ephesians 2:13-18 Mark 6:30-34
Ever have a meal with someone who can’t stop working? The Blackberry keeps chirping, texts keep getting sent, they may even keep getting up and responding to phone calls away from the table (thank God!) It used to be that when planning a vacation, individuals and families would consider if a motel/hotel had a pool or a television…now consideration is given to whether they have WiFi and cell phone access. Like a high-tech addiction, the fear of being out of touch with the familiar can sometimes cramp our relaxation and the relaxation of those around us.
‘Re-creation’ is an opportunity to become aware of how dependent we have become on our familiar routines….when suddenly the routines are disrupted….are we left befuddled, a bit anxious or confused as to what to do? Examples abound of business people being thrust into the overwhelming silence of a camping trip….and being disturbed by the sound of nothing but crickets! Kids walking amidst the geysers of Yellowstone will complain that there is ‘nothing to do’ if their assorted cell and pod devices have no reception. When we are left with but the opportunity to converse with one another face to face, or to converse with God in a setting other than Mass…it can become unsettling.
This weekend we hear in the Gospel passage from Mark about Jesus encouraging his disciples to come away to ‘a deserted place and rest a while.’ But….there were still sick people who could have used a pep talk or miracle to make them well! There were still plenty of people who needed something from Jesus, shouldn’t he and his disciples have shunned rest and worked themselves into an early grave? No, they shouldn’t.
The sick and the needy would still be there after the disciples were rested, the needs would be unending. BUT, their energies to be effective ambassadors of Jesus would begin to fade, they would get grumpy, angry, mean-spirited…and actually begin to do more harm than good…ironically in their efforts to ALWAYS be present to everyone. A traditional time for assorted vacations, Summer in South County affords us opportunities for quick trips to the beach, barbecue in the backyard, sojourns to our local mountains or deserts…are we taking advantage of what lies right in our backyard? Are we ‘getting away by ourselves to a deserted place’ to consider who we are, what we are so busy doing and get our priorities properly aligned? Even Jesus took time apart…he stopped being the miracle-man and rested and recharged…and he was the Son of God! How much more might we benefit from rest and ‘re-creation’?!?!
Thank you for joining with our Corpus Christi Community on this languid July weekend. BIG things are fast approaching with our 2009 Summer Gospel Revival on July 29th and 30th. Make sure you make your reservations NOW because we are not accepting drop-ins on those nights, NO pay-at-the-door….(can you imagine trying to plan the necessary food supplies for each night if we did that???) Two GREAT evenings of food, Gospel Music from House of Blues-tested Los Angeles choirs, fresh ideas and thoughts from Father Charles Wood of Portland Oregon….fire pits and ice cream….all for a lot less than most other Southern California attractions! Reservation forms are available near the outdoor sign or on the Concierge Shelves. Please take a Bulletin with you for news of everything else happening…and as you ‘re-create’ yourself this summer, remember, you are loved. FKB
