Gospel Reading – Mark 6:30-34

The apostles gathered around Jesus, and told him all that they had done and taught. He said to them, “Come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest a while.” For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. And they went away in the boat to a deserted place by themselves.

Now many saw them going and recognized them, and they hurried there on foot from all the towns and arrived ahead of them. As he went ashore, he saw a great crowd; and he had compassion for them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things.

The Gospel of the Lord

Vigil Mass intention is for Bridie & Pauline T’s intentions

The Mass intention is for Jean D’s Intentions

Reflection

Jesus cares about me and invites me too to come away and rest a while. I will be helped if I can go to a ‘deserted place’ occasionally to allow my soul to catch up. Otherwise, as T. S. Eliot says, I have the experience of God’s action in my life, but miss it’s meaning because I don’t give time to reflection.

I may be too busy or too poor ‘to get away from it all’. But each day Sacred Space provides me with an oasis of calm and refreshment. It can restore my frayed nerves and re-orient me to what really matters. I will never regret the time I give to this daily encounter with God.

• How often in your busy day or week to you set aside time to encounter and talk to God?

• How do you express your compassion for those you meet on life’s journey that may be struggling with life?