by Dina Balicanot

Mk. 6:30-34

     Which means I no longer have to worry about getting up early every morning, driving masterfully along a busy Shaw Blvd. so that I don't arrive too (obviously) late for my 9 a.m. time-in schedule, and perennially cramming to finish some work I have put off for sometime because I had to keep my commitments in the community.   

     And a lot of other toxic things I have learned to silently bear with because my community life is more (actually, most) important for me.   

     Indeed, life is about choices. And the path I have chosen does at times stretch me too far and wide physically, just like Jesus and disciples in the Gospel today.   The book of Mark showed Jesus prompting His disciples that they "come away and rest for a while" in some deserted place after several days of ministering to the people. Only in the end, they had to set resting aside, seeing the multitudes of people waiting for them.     

     Consider this.  Jesus, Divine as He is, sought rest as well when things became too hectic. Thus, it is only normal and acceptable that we get tired and seek some time off from the ministry.   

     We do not sin when we admit to looking forward to free weekends which would allow us to spend some time for ourselves and our loved ones.   

     Hep, hep, hep, do not be too quick though. While it is true that we have  given a lot of ourselves already, it should not stop us from passing off any opportunity to do good again and again, each and every time a chance comes our way.   

     In short, for as long as it is physically possible, we must find it in our hearts to help the needy, to pray for someone, to share our gifts, to do an act of mercy.  Come to think of it, it is our own (at times subconscious) doing that we excuse ourselves from doing more than what we can actually do.   

     The things that limit us are only in our minds. Nobody is too handicapped to do good.

     So there it goes. If we are serious about service, we may have  to stop dreaming for a 'walk in the park' kind of life. For that might never happen. On second thought, I would not want an easy life either.    

     God has planned a purposeful life for each one of us, which could only be fulfilled through hard work and steadfastness.     

     Feeling tired today? Surprise yourself.  You (we) can do more and far greater things for God from here.

Prayer:

Help us Lord to believe that we are wonderfully made to achieve great things in Your Name! There is no limit to what we can do for You always bless all our efforts! Amen.