9-Feb-15

Gospel MK 6:53-56
After making the crossing to the other side of the sea,
Jesus and his disciples came to land at Gennesaret
and tied up there.
As they were leaving the boat, people immediately recognized him.
They scurried about the surrounding country
and began to bring in the sick on mats
to wherever they heard he was.
Whatever villages or towns or countryside he entered,
they laid the sick in the marketplaces
and begged him that they might touch only the tassel on his cloak; and as many as touched it were healed.
Reflection:
There are so many occasions in the gospel stories where people overwhelm Jesus with calls for him to heal them. Why wasn't he a victim of the modern day phenomenon of "Compassion Fatigue" experienced by many of today's caregivers?
In the gospels as I read about the constant demands being made on Jesus for healing, I am reminded that no one can continually give without replenishing their source of energy.
If not refilled, even a rain barrel will go empty.
What was Jesus' source of renewed energy?
There are a minimum of twenty five instances in the New Testament where Jesus stopped what he was doing to withdraw to a private place to pray.
He would pray to his Father in Heaven for wisdom, direction, and knowledge of God's will. This was Jesus' means to keeping his spirit strong and his ability to continue to heal.
Over the past twenty-five years, I have known wonderful people who have been involved in human services from a purely humanistic perspective. Many have become burnt out, no longer able to "give" of themselves because their barrel ran dry.
At My Brother's Keeper, coming together in prayer as a community three times each day keeps us focused on our mission and refills our spiritual barrel.
- From the My Brother's Keeper Morning Prayer-
"Dear Lord, please give us loving hearts today with both those whom we serve and those whom we serve with that we may fulfill our mission to bring your love and hope into the world."