Gospel Reflection - 16th Sunday in Ordinary Time


After carrying out their first mission, the Apostles gather again with Jesus to give their reports.  They didn’t just witness miracles, they worked them.  Profound teaching they did not receive, but rather they gave it.  We can imagine what wonder they might have felt.  And now Our Lord has a new mission for them: to follow Him into a deserted place.  Quite a contrast from the awe inspiring journey they have just returned from!

Perhaps they were a bit annoyed, when arriving at their destination, they found it crowded with people seeking Jesus’ attention.  Especially if they were looking forward to some rest after their labor, we can almost picture them complaining about it and telling Jesus to dismiss the crowds.  But instead, what is His reaction?  His heart was moved with pity for them.  

There is no trouble of ours that does not move His heart.  No sorrow, no pain, no suffering, that He does not feel, and in His infinite love, He makes Himself always available to us.  How do the little dramas of our lives compare to the Eternal Splendor of God?  And yet our God desires that we unburden ourselves before Him and trust everything to Him!  For he is our peace…

This self-giving love is also what we are called to imitate.  Maybe we’ve worked hard and deserve a nice long rest.  Maybe we just need some quiet and want to run away to a deserted place.  But always we must remember to imitate that Heart which is moved with pity; that understands our sorrows and the sorrows of others.  And so when something hinders our plans or if someone bothers us, our response cannot be one of annoyance, but one moved with empathy, compassion, and patience.


What is troubling your heart?  Today, lay it before Jesus and trust Him.

We all know someone in our lives who really gets on our nerves, right?  How can you treat that person with more patience and compassion?  How would-or rather does!-the Lord treat them?

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