| Did you ever have one of those days?
One of those days when you feel like you spent your last bit of energy, one of those days when all you want to do before the day ends is take a few minutes to catch you breath and relax, one of those days when you feel you can't lift a finger to do another thing for anyone?
And then it happens. The plumbing breaks and water begins pouring from a pipe; you go to lock your car and the tire is flat; your child comes running in bleeding and needs a trip to the emergency room. Did you ever have one of those days?
In today's Gospel Jesus and his apostles were having one of those days. People wer flocking to them with unending needs. Jesus and the apostles had spent the whole day teaching, healing, driving out demons. In fact the Gospel tells us they didn't even have enough time to eat! So they tried to sneak away to a deserted place, just to rest and maybe get some nourishment. But the people would have none of that! They figured out where they were going and the word spread so quickly through the towns that by the time the boat arrived at the place throngs of people had run there and were awaiting their arrival, with their unending needs.
The first reading tells us that God is dedicated to the remnant of the flock that was Israel. That God will shepherd them and give them the name “Justice”. And Jesus saw this crowd as a flock without a shepherd. And Scripture says he began to teach them.
These readings teach us three important lessons. To begin, we can never wear down God. Despite our sinfulness, despite our limited and self-centered preoccupations, despite our broken resolve, God is still there, and will always be there for us. We wear ourselves out with frustration at our failure to be what God is awaiting. But God will always be there, always waiting, no matter how often we fail.
The second lesson is for us who are striving to do God's will in this life. The more we try to listen with an open heart to others, the more others will want to talk with us. The more we try to give to the needy, the more the needy will search us out. The more we work for liberation and justice, the more areas of oppression and injustice will present themselves to us. There is never, ever an end. Some of us parents who thought we had raised our children find ourselves raising grandchildren and, in difficult economic times, our children still reach out to us for assistance. There is never, ever an end.
And the final lesson is that we have a source of strength, encouragement, and vivaciousness that will enable us to overcome. The Spirit of God is indefatigable! Others may “burn out” in their ministries but the truly godly man or woman will keep on going! Listen to others; give until it hurts; work for justice, peace and liberation even when all seems lost:
The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want;
In verdant pastures God gives me repose;
Besides restful waters God leads me;
God refreshes my soul!
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