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16th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Jer 23:1-6

Eps 2:13-18

Mk 6:30-34

The business world today and indeed perhaps our everyday life is full of action and activity. Words such as ‘hyper’, ‘stress’, ‘aggression’, abound and are taken for granted as being what we have to put up with. Today’s liturgy presents a very different picture and is full of rest, peace, silence and gentleness. The Gospel episode gives us a glimpse of the Apostles as they return from their first pastoral journeys. They are full of enthusiasm and seem to have been impressed by their success-another business term! They can’t wait to tell Jesus about how well they had done. He did not suggest a refresher course, or a lengthy assessment test but ‘retreat’; step back, come aside, break off, rest awhile”.

Disciples of the Lord are called to proclaim the Kingdom of God but they need to get to know the God of the Kingdom first. Retreat is a time to be alone- not loneliness, which can be empty and destructive, but solitude where the emptiness creates the necessary space for God. Here we can reflect with God on our call, our mission, and whether God’s glory or our own success is our ambition.

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