Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
In the Gospel reading this Sunday, Jesus’ disciples return from being sent out on mission to preach the Good News. They are excited to tell Jesus all that they have seen and done, and it seems that Jesus is very proud of them and pleased with their work – He calls for a much-needed vacation so that they can rest and recuperate: “Come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.” But the crowds are so eager to see Jesus that they find out where they are going and are waiting for them when they arrive. The “deserted place” quickly becomes not so deserted, and the vacation turns into a very busy “work-ation”.
In reading this Gospel I am reminded of the opening scene in Mission Impossible 2 when Tom Cruise’s character, Ethan Hunt, is rock climbing in the middle of the desert somewhere (a very deserted place) when out of nowhere a helicopter flies in and sends him out on another mission. After debriefing him on his mission the commander tells him “And Mr. Hunt, the next time you go on holiday, please be good enough to let us know where you’re going.” Ethan replies with “If I let you know where I’m going, I won’t be on holiday.”
We all need to take time for rest, and the summer is a great time to get away from work and be with family and friends. But whether we are electricians, lawyers, teachers, engineers or youth ministers, one thing that we don’t get to take a vacation from is being disciples of Christ. Tuning out from work and taking some time for rest is a good thing but using that time to turn off our moral compass and relax in our faith is counterproductive. In addition to being fun and relaxing, our vacation time should also give us the freedom and space to reconnect with the peace that Jesus offers us as our Good Shepherd. This peace that Jesus offers can serve us well, especially when things don’t go according to plan – like when work follows us to the beach or lake house. Jesus’ response to the crowds beating Him to the “deserted place” and waiting for Him there wasn’t to turn away in frustration or to cry “Would you just leave me alone!” but rather He took pity on them and “began to teach them many things.” Jesus is the Good Shepherd, and no matter what is going on, He always has time for us. So, whether we go on vacation, or just have a few minutes in the business of the workday, let’s make sure to make some time for Him, and embrace the peace and the quiet that He offers us, even in the midst of our busy lives.