Word to the Wise
Saturday, February 9, 2013 - Saturday in the 4th Week in Ordinary Time
[Heb 13:15-17, 20-21 and Mark 6:30-34]The Apostles gathered together with Jesus and reported all they had done and taught. He said to them, "Come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while." People were coming and going in great numbers, and they had no opportunity even to eat. So they went off in the boat by themselves to a deserted place. People saw them leaving and many came to know about it. They hastened there on foot from all the towns and arrived at the place before them.
The scene in today's gospel scripture would be amusing if it weren't so frustratingly true! The crowds coming to Jesus make it impossible for him to "debrief" the Apostles after their first mission trip, or even have time to eat! They try to escape in a boat to a place where they can be alone, but the crowds can see where the boat is going and "head them off at the pass!" For conscientious ministers - priests, deacons, school principals, DRE's, etc. - this situation is all too familiar. The harvest always seems so great and the laborers so few that the harvest becomes dangerous to the laborers! I can recall a priest on a retreat that I was preaching who had a huge ring of keys that he carried on his belt, even during retreat! I told him that if he didn't give some of those to others, he would suffer some serious health consequences. He was in his 40's at the time. Not long after that he suffered a stroke that left him partially disabled!
Ministry in the church can be like any professional work. Stress is a constant element. Canon Law requires priests and deacons to make an annual retreat. (I recommend it for everyone!) Even there I see pastors walking around with their cell phones doing "business" during breaks. When I receive a proposed schedule from a retreat coordinator, I look right away to see if there is adequate rest time so that the retreatants aren't spending all their time in "exercises." A retreat is not a vacation, but a time of renewal in purpose and faith. It is not a "workshop" for acquiring new information and skills. It is a time when Jesus can "debrief" a disciple on what he or she has done and taught. I simply try to facilitate that process by asking some simple questions: Are you praying? Are you learning? Are you loving? Are you serving? I leave the rest to the Holy Spirit. A retreat can be a gift that a married couple can give to themselves together or individually. It is a necessity for anyone serving in a church-faith context! Give yourself the time to "debrief" with the Lord! AMEN