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Gospel Reading for July 21, 2024 – Mark 6: 30-34
GREAT DANGER
The apostles gathered together with Jesus and reported all they had done and taught. He said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.” People were coming and going in great numbers, and they had no opportunity even to eat. So they went off in the boat by themselves to a deserted place. People saw them leaving and many came to know about it. They hastened there on foot from all the towns and arrived at the place before them.
When he disembarked and saw the vast crowd, his heart was moved with pity for them, for they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things.
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The apostles were now having their OJT and they must have been so excited when they were reporting to Jesus all they had done and taught the people. But, Jesus taught them something very important for those who are in the ministry, clergy or lay – the need to get away from it all by connecting with God. The rest of a worker in the vineyard is not merely physical but very much spiritual. When so many people follow us, listen to us, believe in the things we say and do, there is GREAT DANGER in falling into the devil’s trap – that of taking pride in our ability to draw crowds, and forgetting that all our capabilities come from God and that we are just instruments in his work of salvation.
Prayer, or connecting with God, is not only for those in the ministry. It is for all Christians. If we go about life doing things without connecting with God, it is like losing connection with our internet server, thus being unable to do anything online. Life will be EXTRA DIFFICULT if we lose connection with God, because all that is good comes from him alone!
Be with us Lord, every step of the way!
