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    Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time – July 18, 2021

      16th Sunday in Ordinary Time (B) 2021

      INTRO:

      I had a stuffed animal as a child. He was called: EDGAR, THE EAGER BEAVER!

      My parents saw my energy level and eagerness in all things at my young age. They used to say: “I had ants in my pants!”

      So, the gifted stuffed animal was a compliment to me and my exuberance for life.

      All of us have experienced a certain amount of eagerness, especially we “connect” with a:

      Vocation
      Music
      Career
      Our Job.

      I resonate with the APOSTLES and their eagerness to tell the LORD all that they had done. I get excited about stuff and can talk real fast.

      BUT

      What we just heard in the Gospel when the Apostles wanted to talk was:
      Shhhh…… not yet.
      Do not speak.
      You need to “settle down”, “relax”, “pray” and “process” what you just experienced when you went out two by two.

      He even goes on to say…. “let’s get out of here!”
      Jesus tells his disciples to “go away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest awhile.”

      Let me ask you this?
      Has anybody ever told you, “You look tired?” Not always a nice thing, but it was probably true. The world does not get enough rest. We are tired!

      Saint Paul in his letter to the Ephesians says, JESUS IS OUR PEACE.

      We are tired and we need rest. Come rest with JESUS. That is what the church wants us to do. Yes, to be EAGER, but YES to “rest awhile”.

      Our deserted place to rest a while is this place and the Mass.

      In the Mass we can bring our cares, our worries, our exhaustion, and our burdens to the Lord, so that He can refresh us and help us carry them.

      From here, after experiencing the sacrifice of the Mass, an eager life takes on. We become focused again, entering back into the world, restored with hope.

      Funny thing …. This Gospel story ends with EVERYONE realizing JESUS is the ONE and they run after Him to rest with him and find their peace from a crazy oppressed world at that time. How beautiful that they knew where to go!

      CONCLUSION

      In your eagerness about life, each weekend, bring your burdens and give them to Jesus here at Mass. “He is our peace”. JESUS restores you and me to make our world a better place.

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