Daily reflection _ attempt to rest

ATTEMPT TO REST
Jesus told his disciples that he was the Good Shepherd… In fact, the busier we are, the greater the urgency of turning to Jesus.  
Deacon John Ruscheinsky
The apostles returned to Jesus, and told him all that they had done and taught their "to do list." Jesus gave them a list of things to do from last week's Gospel. Then Jesus said to them, "Come away by yourselves to a lonely place, and rest a while." Many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. They went away in the boat to a lonely place by themselves. Many saw them going, and knew them, and they ran there on foot from all the towns, and got there ahead of them. As Jesus went ashore he saw a great number, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things about God and his kingdom.
What does the image of a shepherd tell us about God's care for us? Shepherding was one of the oldest of callings in Israel, even before farming, since the Chosen People had traveled from place to place, living in tents, and driving their flocks from one pasture to another. Looking after sheep was no easy calling. It required great skill and courage. Herds were often quite large, thousands or even ten thousands of sheep. The flocks spent a good part of the year in the open country. Watching over them required a great deal of attention and care. Sheep who strayed from the flock had to be sought out and brought back by the shepherd. Since hyenas, jackals, wolves, and even bears were common and fed on the sheep, the shepherds often had to do battle with these wild and dangerous beasts. A shepherd literally had to put his life on the line in defending his sheep. Shepherds took turns watching the sheep at night to ward off any attackers. The sheep and their shepherds continually lived together. Their life was so intimately bound together that individual sheep, even when mixed with other flocks, could recognize the voice of their own shepherd and would come immediately when called by name.
The Old Testament speaks of God as shepherd of his people Israel: "The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want (Ps 23)." We also hear this in others Psalm: "Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, you who lead Joseph like a flock (Ps 80)!" "We are his people, and the sheep of his pasture (Ps 100)." Jesus is also pictured as the shepherd of God's people. "He will feed his flock like a shepherd, he will gather the lambs in his arms (Is 40)." Jesus told his disciples that he was the Good Shepherd who was willing to lay down his life for his sheep (Matt 18; Jn 10; Lk15). When he saw the multitude of people in need of protection and care, he was moved to respond with compassionate concern. His love was a personal love for each and every person who came to him in need. Peter called Jesus the Shepherd and Guardian of our souls (Peter 1). Do we truly know the peace and security of a life freely submitted to Jesus, the Good Shepherd?
Jesus said in Mark's gospel "Come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while." We all have "To do lists." Our lifestyle in the twenty-first century is certainly more hurried and harried than that of the apostles in the first-century. All the more important for us to heed Jesus' words, "Come away. Rest a while." Impossible, we think. Spouses and children, busy working and busy volunteering.
We must take the time to be with Jesus our Shepherd, time in prayer, no matter how busy life is. In fact, the busier we are, the greater the urgency of turning to Jesus. When we "rest a while" with Jesus, idleness becomes God's workshop; and we become God's tools to live in and love the world. We rest in prayer with Jesus; it has a way of improving our vision. We see ourselves through Jesus' eyes. We see the world through Jesus' eyes. Our "to do list" is about Jesus' mission, rather than our own. We will see everything and everyone with compassion and love that can only come from God.
In the person of the Christ Jesus we see the unceasing vigilance and patience of God's love. In our ups and downs of life, Jesus the Good Shepherd is ever ready to give us help, strength, and refuge.
Attempt to rest in Him!