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July 19, 2009 Mark 6:34 "When He disembarked and saw the vast crowd, His heart was moved with pity for them, for they were like sheep without a shepherd, and He began to teach them many things" Many self-help books have been written over the years in which the author highly advocates the use of "to-do-lists" in order to help us gain control over our lives. Generally, they say we will feel encouraged as we strike off the different things on our lists as we accomplish them. But what I have never seen any of these so-called experts advocate is creating a "done list" in which we take time each day to quietly reflect on all that we have achieved, no matter how small. When we cross things off a to do list., we tend to say, "Thank God that's done!" But when we look at a done list, we might be more tempted to day, "Thanks, God, for your help." Jesus was truing to give His disciples a rest and a time for reflection and prayer in today's Gospel reading from Mark. They had returned from teaching throughout the area and were excited to tell Him all they had accomplished, but at the same time Jesus felt they needed solitude to reflect and give thanks in prayer for all they had done. Still, many people of the area searching for peace in their lives kept coming to them, the lost sheep of God's flock.
Throughout the Gospels, Jesus often draws away from His disciples to pray in silence and solitude. And when He does, He includes each and everyone one of us in His prayers. He became flesh and blood to give Himself in sacrifice for us; He experienced our pain and suffering in order to free us from that pain (CCC2602). Few of us can remember much of any self=help book we've read and rarely if ever do we go back to them. Yet the word of God remains, ready to be reflected upon again and again. Doing so prayerfully is to give thanks.
©2009 St. Mary of Mount Virgin Church.org Prepared by Digital Pro Quo LLC
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