We all know what it is like to be busy. We all know what it is like to have so much on your plate, that you’re really not sure how you’re going to get it all done. It’s not a good feeling. And it makes you feel like you can’t take a break. So that, probably when you most need a break, is exactly the time that you can’t take one. We’ve all been there before.

Several years ago in Italy, some post office workers in Rome, got way behind in the sorting and delivering of the mail. The more behind they got, the more desperate they became. Somewhere along the way, one of the postal workers came up with the idea, that since they were so far behind with the mail, that they just needed to get rid of what they couldn’t deliver. The others, who were just as over-whelmed, all agreed, and so they loaded up a big truck with all this mail that they couldn’t deliver, and they drove it to the Tiber River, where they proceeded to dump several months’ worth of mail, out of the truck and into the river. For the next several years, Italians were finding all kinds of mail along the bank of the river and even out into the Mediterranean Sea. To make matters worse, this happened right before Christmas, when post offices all over the world are busier than usual with Christmas cards and gifts. Apparently in Italy, when postal workers go “postal”, they don’t shoot anybody or hold anybody hostage, they just get rid of the mail.

Can’t you imagine what it would be like if we all did that? What if doctors just got rid of their patients, when they got backed up? What if accountants just threw away all our tax documents every April, instead of working hard to get them all done? What if priests just didn’t show up for Mass, or for meetings, or for weddings or funerals, when they felt a little over-whelmed? Of course, it doesn’t work that way.

Today’s Gospel is a direct continuation of last week’s “Sending Out of the Disciples”. This week, the disciples are coming back in, from their work, and they have been very successful. They must be a little tired, a little worn out, a little over-whelmed. We believe this because Jesus invites them to come away with Him to rest and recoup. They even flee the area to get away and to get some peace. And what happens? The crowds follow them. There is no rest, no peace, no break. We know what this feels like. And Jesus feels pity for the crowds because they are like sheep without a shepherd. The Gospel says that He begins to teach them many things.

This Gospel passage has multiple messages for us today, as we hear it. First of all, it reminds us that everybody needs a break sometime, even busy, active, committed Catholic Christians. We can’t run forever. We are not the Energizer Bunny. To really follow Jesus, we’ve got to set aside some time for prayer, for rest, for reflection. We all need time to re-coup, most especially when it comes to our spiritual lives. Show me a Christian that is too busy to pray, and I’ll show you a Christian that is just plain too busy.
There are definitely times in our lives when we need to slow down and simplify things. A good retreat to refresh our souls is absolutely essential to all Christians. We need to make time to slow down. It is so important to set-aside time to pray, to reflect, even to rest. Burn out has been a problem for active Christians from the very beginning. And Jesus is telling us today that we have to be in this for the long haul.

Secondly, the Gospel reminds us that we can do God’s work whenever and wherever we are. Even when we’re resting, or relaxing, or retreating, God can still use us to do His work. There is much to be done. Still today, two-thousand years after the time of Christ, there are millions who need to be brought to Christ. There are souls starving for Jesus and what He has to offer them. Is it any wonder that Jesus pitied them! So many times, the only way those people are going to be reached, is if we do it. God is counting on all of us to do our part. God is counting on you! Think about that for a minute. God is counting on you to bring others to Christ. How can we not do our part? How can we not do everything that we can to get the Faith that we have received, out to others?

Sometimes we do get over-whelmed. The answer is not to give up and quit. The answer is to get the help that we need from Jesus and to persevere. We can do it, with God’s help!

May God bless us this weekend, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit… AMEN !!!

St. Maria Goretti… Pray for us !!!