#DAYLIGHT – Daily #MenOfLight #GospelReflection
04 February 2023
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/020423.cfm
Sharer: Belina S. Katigbak
Mk 6:30-34
“REST A WHILE”
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Anchor Verses:
Then the apostles gathered to Jesus and told Him all things, both what they had done and what they had taught. 31 And He said to them, “Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.” For there were many coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat…
When Jesus disembarked and saw the vast crowd, his heart was moved with pity for them…”
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Sharing/Reflection:
The gospel for today finds its context from the earlier verses of Marks’ narrative in the same chapter. Jesus sent the Twelve two by two. “So they went out and preached that people should repent. And they cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many who were sick, and healed them. (Mk 6:12-13)
Preaching, casting out many demons, anointing, and healing the sick - these are what the Twelve accomplished and reported to Jesus. I put myself into their shoes Oh, how tired they have been! Thus, Jesus told them, “Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.”
From the rich teachings of the good news today, I would like to bring to the fore 3 things, namely: 1) Doing Mission, 2) Resting in God, and 3) The Heart of Jesus.
1. Doing Mission
God gives each one a mission, a purpose. Today, we are invited to reflect on the purpose of our life. Knowing our mission, and passionately pursuing it brings out the best in us and the best in others. God, who sends us out for a mission gives us the authority and all the means to fulfill our purpose. Just like the Twelve, we could do the unimaginable! And God who sends us on a mission will provide for all that is necessary.
I treasure in my heart the special mission during this Third Millennium. The Holy Father, Pope Francis invites us to journey together toward becoming a synodal church focusing on Synodality from 2021 to 2024. Our local church in Pampanga responded to this universal call, with the archdiocesan theme, “Makiramdam” (Listen). This “Makiramdam’ spurs us on to listen with the ears of our heart, to be present to our companions on the journey, and to be able to experience “Ramdam ko ang nararamdaman mo” (“I feel you”).
2. Resting in God
Do you need rest? Has your energy dissipated?
For me, my involvement in the local synodal process is one of the most rewarding and life-changing endeavors that I ever had experienced! Listening to the “less heard, the marginalized, and vulnerable” was well worth the physical energies and time poured into the mission. But exhausting indeed it was! I reached some points of emotional fatigue. During these times, I went to Jesus. He looked at me in a very personal way, or so I think, just how He must have been when “His Apostles gathered together with Him and reported all they had done and taught.” He responded to them with love and care, saying, "Come away by yourself to a deserted place and rest a while". At the peak of exhaustion, as always, Jesus brings me to a place of solitude to rest with Him. In some instances, He would arrange for live-in encounters in a monastery. Right there before the Blessed Sacrament, throughout my stay, as I gazed upon Him, He always made me feel the Divine Presence. I adore, I savor His presence, I pray, and I listen. These, for me, are the best ways to regain my dissipated energy.
This “rest a while” should bring us to a greater mission, much like what happened to the Twelve. The succeeding verses of today’s gospel bring us to the feeding of the multitude. Same here, for as soon as I “disembarked” from that “rest a while”, and seeing the immense work that God has planned for me, not only am I re-energized, I become a changed person, a transformed disciple of Jesus as well!
3. The Heart of Jesus
Doing the mission entails a loving and personal relationship with Jesus. It becomes profound through intimate listening, being with, and “wasting” oneself with the Master. The last verse of today’s gospel goes, “he began to teach them many things”. Hearing the teachings of Jesus, seeing what He did, and following His life examples are life-changing. A true encounter with Jesus would lead to a change of mindset, a change of heart, and a change of ways of doing. Why? His are the most powerful words and deeds of love! He revolutionized everything by the new commandment: “Love one another as I have loved you” (John 13:34). The apostles fondly retold the stories, “Jesus went about doing good” (Acts 10:38), and they lived these stories by their life example.
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IN A NUTSHELL:
This is exactly what I believe my mission, your mission, our mission is, which today’s first reading reinforces likewise, “Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have; God is pleased by sacrifices of that kind” (Hebrews 13:16). Indeed, the mission is all about love - love that is coming right from the very core of the heart of Jesus! He inflames our hearts, too. Ablaze for the mission these hearts should be!
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-
REFLECTION:
Do you need rest so you could love and serve more? The best way to rest is to rest in God. Rest in the heart of Jesus. In silence, listen to what your heart is telling as you savor the song, “Heart of Jesus”.
HYMN-PRAYER:
HEART OF JESUS, MEEK AND MILD
(This hymn was included by the Sisters of Notre Dame in their 1907 publication "Sunday School Hymn Book, S.N.D.")
Heart of Jesus meek and mild,
Hear, oh hear thy feeble child,
When the tempest's most severe,
Heart of Jesus hear.
Sweetly we'll rest on thy Sacred Heart,
Never from Thee, oh, let us part,
Hear then thy loving children's pray'r,
Heart of Jesus hear.
Make me Jesus wholly thine,
Change this wayward heart of mine,
Lead me through this world so drear,
Heart of Jesus hear!
Sweetly we'll rest on thy Sacred Heart,
Never from Thee, oh, let us part,
Hear then thy loving children's pray'r,
Heart of Jesus hear.
04 February 2023
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/020423.cfm
Sharer: Belina S. Katigbak
Mk 6:30-34
“REST A WHILE”
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
Anchor Verses:
Then the apostles gathered to Jesus and told Him all things, both what they had done and what they had taught. 31 And He said to them, “Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.” For there were many coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat…
When Jesus disembarked and saw the vast crowd, his heart was moved with pity for them…”
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-
Sharing/Reflection:
The gospel for today finds its context from the earlier verses of Marks’ narrative in the same chapter. Jesus sent the Twelve two by two. “So they went out and preached that people should repent. And they cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many who were sick, and healed them. (Mk 6:12-13)
Preaching, casting out many demons, anointing, and healing the sick - these are what the Twelve accomplished and reported to Jesus. I put myself into their shoes Oh, how tired they have been! Thus, Jesus told them, “Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.”
From the rich teachings of the good news today, I would like to bring to the fore 3 things, namely: 1) Doing Mission, 2) Resting in God, and 3) The Heart of Jesus.
1. Doing Mission
God gives each one a mission, a purpose. Today, we are invited to reflect on the purpose of our life. Knowing our mission, and passionately pursuing it brings out the best in us and the best in others. God, who sends us out for a mission gives us the authority and all the means to fulfill our purpose. Just like the Twelve, we could do the unimaginable! And God who sends us on a mission will provide for all that is necessary.
I treasure in my heart the special mission during this Third Millennium. The Holy Father, Pope Francis invites us to journey together toward becoming a synodal church focusing on Synodality from 2021 to 2024. Our local church in Pampanga responded to this universal call, with the archdiocesan theme, “Makiramdam” (Listen). This “Makiramdam’ spurs us on to listen with the ears of our heart, to be present to our companions on the journey, and to be able to experience “Ramdam ko ang nararamdaman mo” (“I feel you”).
2. Resting in God
Do you need rest? Has your energy dissipated?
For me, my involvement in the local synodal process is one of the most rewarding and life-changing endeavors that I ever had experienced! Listening to the “less heard, the marginalized, and vulnerable” was well worth the physical energies and time poured into the mission. But exhausting indeed it was! I reached some points of emotional fatigue. During these times, I went to Jesus. He looked at me in a very personal way, or so I think, just how He must have been when “His Apostles gathered together with Him and reported all they had done and taught.” He responded to them with love and care, saying, "Come away by yourself to a deserted place and rest a while". At the peak of exhaustion, as always, Jesus brings me to a place of solitude to rest with Him. In some instances, He would arrange for live-in encounters in a monastery. Right there before the Blessed Sacrament, throughout my stay, as I gazed upon Him, He always made me feel the Divine Presence. I adore, I savor His presence, I pray, and I listen. These, for me, are the best ways to regain my dissipated energy.
This “rest a while” should bring us to a greater mission, much like what happened to the Twelve. The succeeding verses of today’s gospel bring us to the feeding of the multitude. Same here, for as soon as I “disembarked” from that “rest a while”, and seeing the immense work that God has planned for me, not only am I re-energized, I become a changed person, a transformed disciple of Jesus as well!
3. The Heart of Jesus
Doing the mission entails a loving and personal relationship with Jesus. It becomes profound through intimate listening, being with, and “wasting” oneself with the Master. The last verse of today’s gospel goes, “he began to teach them many things”. Hearing the teachings of Jesus, seeing what He did, and following His life examples are life-changing. A true encounter with Jesus would lead to a change of mindset, a change of heart, and a change of ways of doing. Why? His are the most powerful words and deeds of love! He revolutionized everything by the new commandment: “Love one another as I have loved you” (John 13:34). The apostles fondly retold the stories, “Jesus went about doing good” (Acts 10:38), and they lived these stories by their life example.
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-
IN A NUTSHELL:
This is exactly what I believe my mission, your mission, our mission is, which today’s first reading reinforces likewise, “Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have; God is pleased by sacrifices of that kind” (Hebrews 13:16). Indeed, the mission is all about love - love that is coming right from the very core of the heart of Jesus! He inflames our hearts, too. Ablaze for the mission these hearts should be!
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-
REFLECTION:
Do you need rest so you could love and serve more? The best way to rest is to rest in God. Rest in the heart of Jesus. In silence, listen to what your heart is telling as you savor the song, “Heart of Jesus”.
HYMN-PRAYER:
HEART OF JESUS, MEEK AND MILD
(This hymn was included by the Sisters of Notre Dame in their 1907 publication "Sunday School Hymn Book, S.N.D.")
Heart of Jesus meek and mild,
Hear, oh hear thy feeble child,
When the tempest's most severe,
Heart of Jesus hear.
Sweetly we'll rest on thy Sacred Heart,
Never from Thee, oh, let us part,
Hear then thy loving children's pray'r,
Heart of Jesus hear.
Make me Jesus wholly thine,
Change this wayward heart of mine,
Lead me through this world so drear,
Heart of Jesus hear!
Sweetly we'll rest on thy Sacred Heart,
Never from Thee, oh, let us part,
Hear then thy loving children's pray'r,
Heart of Jesus hear.
