|
By now most of us have made plans for the summer which may include special activities at home or away with family and friends. Summer is often thought to be a more relaxed season when the temperature is warm and the daylight lasts into the evening. A change of pace provides opportunities for us to rest and relax our bodies, as well as recharge our spiritual batteries. Jesus recognized this need in the disciples after they had returned from their mission of preaching, teaching, and healing. So He invited them to go with Him to a quiet place for rest. But before they could sail across the lake, a crowd of people saw them and ran around the lake on land and met them on the other side, seeking help from Jesus. It was, according to the gospel writer Mark, this setting in which Jesus fed 5,000 people with one boy's lunch (Mark 6:30-44). The best laid plans of Jesus - to have a time of solitude with His disciples - became an opportunity to demonstrate God's love to 5,000 people. While our summer plans of rest and relaxation may not result in such a significant opportunity to share our faith, we need to be open to the opportunities that God gives us. My sermon on June 29 emphasized that as faithful disciples of Christ, we do need times for physical, mental, and spiritual refreshment but we should never expect to take a vacation from God, for all of our time is God's time. We never know what doors may open for us, when we may have the opportunity to speak or act in some loving, Christ-like way. To paraphrase Teresa of Avila (1515-1582),
Christ has no body now on earth but ours, So wherever we find ourselves this summer - at home, in the mountains, by the ocean, or some other location - may our days be filled with refreshment and service in our Lord's name. Happy summer!
Pastor Martha Dominy |
|