The Dedication of the Basilica of Saint Mary Major “I cannot carry all these people by myself. (Numbers 11:14)” A number of years ago, the phrase WWJD was very popular: “What would Jesus do?” What would he do if he was faced with a situation that we find ourselves in? This slogan reminds us that Jesus faced issues that we face in our daily lives, and that we can imitate him as we walk through our days. Today’s readings have a real WWJD angle to them. We see how both Moses and Jesus reacted when they found themselves in very demanding, tiring situations. Let’s look at Moses first. Moses had brought the Israelites out of Egypt, showing them time after time how merciful and powerful their God is. Yet the people continued to complain and even tried to revolt. So what would Moses do when he reaches his breaking point? He goes off to complain to God about the burden of leading such a fractious people. Now Jesus: He has just learned that his kinsman and forerunner, John the Baptist, had been executed. Saddened by the news, he tries to find a quiet place to pray—just as Moses did. But instead he is faced with a crowd of people. Rather than slip away, he spends the day preaching, healing, and feeding the throng. This is what Jesus would do at his breaking point: continue to give and minister. So today’s readings tell us what to do when we reach breaking points. We should make it a point to spend time with the Lord in prayer. But there are also times when we can’t slip away. That’s when we can follow Jesus’ example and press on, confident that God will give us the strength we need. The good news is that God doesn’t have a breaking point. He never gets tired of caring for us. He is always ready to feed us, to comfort us, and to heal our weary hearts. He has endless resources, and he’s always ready to share them with you. So don’t be afraid to go to the Lord for help. And if life gets in the way of your prayer time, be confident that Jesus will still help you carry on. “Thank you, Lord, for the promise of your presence. Teach me how to find time to be with you. And when I can’t, please give me your strength and grace.” Psalm 81:12-17 Matthew 14:13-21
Posted on: Mon, 05 Aug 2013 11:27:40 +0000
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