theROCK

Fill Jesus Up

Do you know the song “It’s My Party” by Lesley Gore? While I might be dating myself on that one, I grew up listening to “the oldies.” In reading today’s Gospel, this is what popped in my head. For not only did I read the Gospel, but also the verses that come after it where Jesus laments for Jerusalem. Jesus is crying at His own party.

Have you ever felt sad at a party? I have.  Now that I think about it, I may have felt sad at a party on more than one occasion. What would cause one to be sad at their own party?

• Knowing that the joy and fun of the party will come to an end.
• Maybe a certain special person isn’t there that you wanted to be there.
• Realizing that you have spent so much time making sure that everything is “just so” that you miss the moments of connection (I call this a Martha Moment).

There most certainly may be more, but you get the idea. While I have never experienced anything like Jesus did, I can imagine that this event was anything but celebratory for Him, or was it? What would cause Him to be sad at His party?

• He is aware that this moment is fleeting.
• He is aware that terrible suffering is looming.
• He is aware that His disciples aren’t quite getting it and that is frustrating.
• He is aware that He is going to die a very painful and humiliating death in a few days.

With all this being known, does He participate in the party? He most certainly does! How can I tell? He rebukes the Pharisees. Jesus is enjoying the celebration and wants it to keep going.  It may be just what He needs knowing what He knows. The cheers of recognition and love are filling His cup before His cup is emptied. 

Take the opportunity of this Palm Sunday to fill up Jesus’s cup before He pours it all out for us this Holy Week. Give Him everything you have by prayer and supplication so that Good Friday is so, so good!

Thank you, Jesus, for preparing such a tremendous banquet for us. We can’t wait to join you at the heavenly feast where there will be no more crying. Ever.

Come Away and Rest

As I prepared to write this reflection, I found myself pacing in my office. I was deep into the, “Lord, reveal to me what you need your disciples to hear so that it be your words not mine.” In the gospel from Mark I was struck by verse Mark 6: 31, “Come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.” How often do we do that? 

At this point in the Gospel of Mark, the apostles learn of John the Baptist’s death. Jesus desperately tries to remove them from the crowds so that they may come away by themselves and rest awhile. Jesus is encouraging self-care. Jesus is encouraging time to mourn. Jesus is loving His disciples, striving to provide them with what they need, yet the crowds press on.  What does this mean for our own lives? 

Our culture has allowed us to believe that busy is better. That the busier you are the better you are. It is a badge of honor to share how impossible your schedule is. Why? Is busier better? Is it somehow a show of popularity? Is it arrogance to some degree? I have come to learn through many Saintly examples that the busier we are, the less charitable we are able to be, that if we don’t set boundaries with our time, we are unable to respond to the demands of love around us. How does the adage go? You can’t give what you don’t have. Jesus clearly knows that and strives to provide that for His disciples.  We often see Jesus retreat in order to pray, to rest, to fill His cup. If He can do it, so should we. In today’s Gospel, He is teaching this important practice, to go away to a deserted place to rest.  As disciples, we must refresh, restore, and renew our energies in order to be the hands of Jesus in the world.

My fellow disciples, take time to go away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest awhile. Summer provides an opportunity to do that if we let it. This could mean turning off the radio in the car, sitting on the deck/patio so you are not distracted by the TV, putting down or putting away our phones, spending time just “being,” or visiting church to sit before the tabernacle or in Adoration. Simply unwind and unplug. If this isn’t part of your routine, might I suggest starting slow with 1 or 2 minutes and building up from there? To the unpracticed, one minute can seem like an eternity! Create a habit of withdrawing to fill your cup so that you can be a peace-filled disciple, one who is ready to respond to the demands of love placed before you on a daily basis. Go, rest a while.

Beautiful Mercy

This book, Beautiful Mercy, published by Dynamic Catholic reveals the heart of God. It covers the 7 Spiritual and 7 Corporal works of mercy, and gives practical tips on how you and I can offer extra ordinary acts of love no matter where we are in life. 

The book brings together 24 authors who bear witness and provide nuggets on how to pour out compassion and bring hope to others who are searching for meaning in their life.