A CHALLENGING WAY OF LIFE
"Come away
by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while" (Mk 6:31). Time spent
in a place of solitude allows us to reconnect with all that is essential for
being effective in doing God's will and work.
The Dogmatic Constitution on the Church
(Austin Flannery translation) states: "Since Jesus, the Son of God, showed
His love by laying down His life for us, no one has greater love than they who
lay down their lives for Him and for their sisters and brothers (see 1 John
3:16; John 15:13). Some Christians have been called from the beginning, and
will always be called, to give testimony of love to everyone, especially to
persecutors. Martyrdom makes disciples like their Master, Who willing accepted
death for the salvation of the world, and through it they are made like Him by
shedding of blood. Therefore, the Church considers it the highest gift and
supreme test of love. And while it is given to few, all, however, must be
prepared to confess Christ before humanity and to follow Him along the way of
the cross amid the persecutions which the Church never lacks."
Following Jesus from the very beginning
has indeed been a challenging way of life. Mark's Gospel gives us a glimpse of
that today. Jesus is portrayed as being well aware of how stressful proclaiming
the Good News by word and deed can be. He knows how ministry can consume all of
our time so that even eating is put on hold. Jesus makes a very important point
in the Scriptures. He does not encourage work-a-holism, which drains us of all
energy, resources and creativity. He encourages us, just as He did His
disciples, to "Come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a
while" (Mk 6:31). Time spent in a place of solitude allows us to reconnect
with all that is essential for being effective in doing God's will and work.
"There is no true solitude except
interior solitude" (Thomas Merton). Solitude does not have to be a
physical place, though it can be, nor does it have to involve silence, though
it might. Rather, as Merton said, solitude is an inner space where we can rest
quietly and alone in God's presence and receive His grace. Jesus' disciples and
all who are called to be ministers of God's Kingdom, are called to live
ministry as a way of life, not an endless series of projects to be
accomplished. We need to remember Jesus' words, "Come away by yourselves
to a deserted place and rest a while," for He will teach us many things!