“People were coming and going in great numbers, and they had no opportunity even to eat.”

What do you see in this statement? Do you see yourselves and your families in it? Is this not a succinct description of the lives of many of us today? Young professionals munch on vending machine fare while working at their desks. Teens grab a bagel for breakfast on the way out the door to school. Parents and children drive through a succession of fast-food restaurants between after-school lessons and sports practices. Commuters sip double lattes on the early morning drive, gnaw on baby carrots between meetings, and pick up takeout on the way home, etc... We are a people besieged by activities and responsibilities that reshape even basic functions of life such as eating. Our busyness prevents us from gathering for family meals, and we may even forget that we enjoy stopping to eat together. And our busyness, sometimes and many times, becomes a “legitimate” excuse for many of us to do our prayer, or to spend some time with God if you will. However, whatever happens, Jesus’ words from this weekend’s gospel “Come away and rest a while” should always be the anchor for

our faith journey. Indeed, “Come away and rest a while” should always be pondered in our hearts, daily. Why?

First, Jesus always invites us to come away with Him. This is essential. There is no real renewal of our hearts and lives without God. It is impossible to experience deep renewal if we exclude God from our rest and recreation. Our soul, an essential part of our being, needs to be renewed as much as our body. Any time off from our daily labors that does not seek to restore and renew our relationship with Jesus will leave us feeling empty and exhausted at the end of our time away.

Second, Jesus invites us to find a place that is deserted, that is, free from distractions if you will, so that we can truly rest. How often do we seek rest and even get away from our normal routine but fail to properly rest because we do too much and are unable to disconnect because of iPads and cellphones? In 2013, as a propaedeutic seminarian for the diocese of Vinh in Vietnam, I did an eight-day retreat. The retreat director asked me to use the Spiritual Exercises by St. Ignatius of Loyola for my retreat. I spent those days with no Internet or cellphone service or any kind of other technological tools.

At first, I felt anxious and uncomfortable. However, these days, eventually, were the most wonderful times that I have ever had. Without those distractions, I had the freedom to follow the rhythm of my soul and possessed the real-time to cultivate a personal and authentic relationship with God.

Last but not least, Jesus’ invitation to His disciples in this weekend’s Gospel also applies to our daily lives. Jesus knows that we need to turn to Him each day for nourishment, strength, and spiritual growth. He is the well of living water springing up to new life for the world and for all of us. Plus, His unconditional and personal love for us drives Him to desire time with us. Every day we need to “come away to a deserted place” with Jesus. Giving Him at least 10 minutes for prayer each day would allow us to dive into the spring of this living water.

On the seventh day, God rested. When He got tired, Jesus took a nap on the back of the boat. When they were overwhelmed with crowds and the scope of their ministry, Jesus invited the disciples to come away to a quiet place and rest for a while. So do we. We all need time apart to fill our cups and renew our spirits. May we take that needed time – time for solitude and prayer; time with family, with our spiritual family, the Church. May we emulate the God of rest, and remember

the words of Jesus, who invited us to come away, and rest for a while.