REST, RELAX AND

REJOICE

“Rejoicing in the Lord must be your strength!” – Nehemiah 8:10

       A few years ago, I went through burnout several times. I would be OK for a season, then I would fall into it again (repeat 10 times). I constantly felt depleted. I found myself irritated over the littlest things and had no drive to work. I possibly had undiagnosed bouts of depression also.

       During that season of my life, I had several impressions from the Lord telling me to rest, slow down and be intimate with Him, and to have fun. I didn’t heed His advice right away. But after the nth burnout, I said to myself, “This has to stop!”

        I had to intentionally take time off for myself to regain my joy for living. After some time, I felt the passion, joy and inspiration come back. Now, I deliberately structure my schedule to make sure I don’t fall into the burnout pit again.

        My greatest lesson from this experience? When you rest, relax and rejoice with Jesus, you are sharpening the saw. You’re making yourself better, sharper and more creative. Don’t think that having fun is unproductive or a waste of time. It helps you regain your strength. Mike Viñas (mikemichaelfcv@yahoo.com)

Reflection: Refuel before the needle points to empty. 

Jesus, let’s hang out for a while. Let’s rest, relax, rejoice and have some fun! 

St. Maria Faustina Kowalska, pray for us.

Look at how much the people of Israel loved the Word of God. They stood in the sun for hours just to hear it proclaimed. Do you love the Word of God enough to stand for hours to listen to it? If we do not love the Word of God with all our hearts, then this is a grace we should pray for. The saints will tell us that the Word of the Lord is life and, thus, we should desire to hear and know it above all other words.

1 The whole people gathered as one in the open space before the Water Gate, and they called upon Ezra the scribe to bring forth the book of the law of Moses which the Lord prescribed for Israel. 2 On the first day of the seventh month, therefore, Ezra the priest brought the law before the assembly, which consisted of men, women, and those children old enough to understand. 3 Standing at one end of the open place that was before the Water Gate, he read out of the book from daybreak until midday, in the presence of the men, the women, and those children old enough to understand; and all the people listened attentively to the book of the law. 4 Ezra the scribe stood on a wooden platform that had been made for the occasion. 5 He opened the scroll so that all the people might see it (for he was standing higher up than any of the people); and, as he opened it, all the people rose. 6 Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God, and all the people, their hands raised high, answered, “Amen, amen!” Then they bowed down and prostrated themselves before the Lord, their faces to the ground. 7 Then as the people remained in their places. 8 Ezra read plainly from the book of the law of God, interpreting it so that all could understand what was read. 9 Then Nehemiah, that is, His Excellency, and Ezra the priest-scribe and the Levites who were instructing the people said to all the people: “Today is holy to the Lord your God. Do not be sad, and do not weep” — for all the people were weeping as they heard the words of the law. 10 He said further: “Go, eat rich foods and drink sweet drinks, and allot portions to those who had nothing prepared; for today is holy to our Lord. Do not be saddened this day, for rejoicing in the Lord must be your strength!” 11 And the Levites quieted all the people, saying, “Hush, for today is holy, and you must not be saddened.” 12 Then all the people went to eat and drink, to distribute portions, and to celebrate with great joy, for they understood the words that had been expounded to them.

R: The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart.

7 [8] The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul; the decree of the Lord is trustworthy, giving wisdom to the simple. (R) 8 [9] The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the command of the Lord is clear, enlightening the eye. (R) 9 [10] The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever; the ordinances of the Lord are true, all of them just. (R) 10 [11] They are more precious than gold, than a heap of purest gold; sweeter also than syrup or honey from the comb. (R)

Jesus has called many others to help Him proclaim the Gospel. He knows that He cannot get the Word of Salvation out to all the world on His own. He needs other hands, feet and voices to carry the Gospel to the ends of the earth. Let us ask Jesus to lead us on how we can be a channel of His grace to those who do not know Him.

The Kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the Gospel.

1 Jesus appointed seventy-two other disciples whom he sent ahead of him in pairs to every town and place he intended to visit. 2 He said to them, “The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest. 3 Go on your way; behold, I am sending you like lambs among wolves. 4 Carry no money bag, no sack, no sandals; and greet no one along the way. 5 Into whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace to this household.’ 6 If a peaceful person lives there, your peace will rest on him; but if not, it will return to you. 7 Stay in the same house and eat and drink what is offered to you, for the laborer deserves his payment. Do not move about from one house to another. 8 Whatever town you enter and they welcome you, eat what is set before you, 9 cure the sick in it and say to them, ‘The Kingdom of God is at hand for you.’ 10 Whatever town you enter and they do not receive you, go out into the streets and say, 11 ‘The dust of your town that clings to our feet, even that we shake off against you.’ Yet know this: the Kingdom of God is at hand. 12 I tell you, it will be more tolerable for Sodom on that day than for that town.”

think: How are you proclaiming the Word of God to the people around you?

Read the Bible in one year Ecclesiates 9-12

T O D A Y’S BLESSING LIST

thank You, Lord, for: ______________________________________________________

SCHIZOPHRENIC CHRISTIANITY

A father called his son who was reported to have been in trouble in school. The father demanded, “What is this I hear about you getting in trouble in school? I want an explanation and I want the truth.” The son responded, “Make up your mind, dad. What do you want, an explanation or the truth?”

      In the mind of the boy, the explanation and the truth are two separate, different and opposite things.

        We are fond of misguided, mutually exclusive separations. In philosophy, we call this false dichotomy. Church and state: How often have we heard politicians harping on the so-called separation of the Church and the state when the Church speaks out against immoral politics? Body and soul: How many Catholics tend to be prudes as they see the body as the source of all evil and, therefore, reject anything and everything connected with the body? How many people have become slaves to passions as they dismiss life in the spirit? Religion and spirituality: How many people describe themselves as spiritual but not religious?

          What is the result of all of this? A schizophrenic spirituality.

         We don’t see this separation in today’s First Reading. The prophet Ezra was commanded by the Lord to gather the people. Once gathered, Ezra opened up the scroll of the Law of God. To it, the people responded, “Amen! Amen!” and they celebrated with great joy.

         “They celebrated with great joy.” That meant they lived the law. The law of the Lord is not just meant to be read. The Bible tells us that the “Word was made flesh.” For many of us, it is the case of “the Word was made ink,” that is, the Word of God is simply ink printed in the pages of an unopened and unlived Bible. The word religion comes from the Latin word religare, which means “to bind together.” Religion is never meant to be isolated from life and its varied dimensions. It should be the foundation that holds all things together. Fr. Joel Jason

---------- REFLECTION QUESTION ----------

What kind of schizophrenia afflicts your life right now?

Let my faith be a real anchor in my life, Lord, that all and everything may be one, in Jesus’ name. Amen.