Daily Gospel Reflection
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July 21, 2024
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.
One lesson I have learned as a Catholic who tries their best to receive the sacrament of reconciliation on a somewhat regular basis is the need to arrive well before the sacrament’s start time advertised on most parish websites, lest the line for confession be so long that the priest is unable to get to everyone.
This rather unfortunate fact often leads to commentaries on the need for more priestly vocations, both for the sake of laypeople who desire to deepen their relationship with Jesus and for the priests who are often overworked and have no time to “rest a while.” Although an increase in holy priests is indeed something we should pray for daily, it nonetheless strikes me that the need to hasten to meet Jesus and his ministers is something that has existed since the beginning of Christianity.
Ultimately, this speaks to humanity’s inclination to eternal, loving union with God in heaven, an inclination that can never be fully satisfied on earth, no matter how early one arrives for confession or how many times one travels to a “deserted place” for a retreat or a rest. While Christ’s concern for the mental, emotional, and physical health of his disciples shows that such a withdrawal from the world is important, the movement of his heart upon seeing the vast crowd shows once again that humanity’s greatest needs are spiritual and are ultimately satisfied only in the loving heart of God.
And what better place to encounter God’s heart on this earth than in the Eucharist? It is through our faithful reception of the Eucharist that we discover Martha and Mary together: solace in the midst of ministry, peace in the midst of action. Let us give thanks to God that we have been blessed with this “opportunity even to eat.”
Prayer
Dear Lord, as we go about our homes and work, let us bring your presence with us. Let us speak your peace, your grace, your mercy, and your perfect order to all we meet. Give us a fresh supply of strength to do our work. Let even our smallest accomplishments bring you glory. When we are confused, guide us. When we are burned out, infuse us with the light of the Holy Spirit. Thank you for being our source of life! Amen.
Saint of the Day
St. Lawrence of Brindisi had a brilliant mind and used his influence to build the kingdom of God in both the secular and sacred spheres of his day.
He was born in Brindisi in the kingdom of Naples in 1559, and given the name Cesare de Rossi. He was educated by Franciscans, and furthered his studies in Venice. He decided to follow his teachers, and became a Capuchin Franciscan priest, taking the name Lawrence.
He had a near perfect recall of Scripture, and learned Greek, Hebrew, German, Bohemian, French, and Spanish. Lawrence’s preaching was noticed by many, and he was entrusted with more responsibilities. Soon he was given tasks by both the pope and the emperor that took him through Italy and Germany, where he founded new monasteries and developed the Church.
In one case, Lawrence even led the army. The emperor sent Lawrence to help the German princes repel Turkish forces threatening Hungary. Lawrence was appointed chaplain of the forces; known for his wisdom, the generals asked his advice when they faced a confrontation with the enemy. Lawrence advised attacking, and even rode before the army carrying a crucifix. The Turks were soundly defeated, and the victory was attributed to Lawrence’s assistance and example.
Lawrence continued to assist rulers of his age as a messenger and diplomat, and used his influence to improve governance and promote peace. He was worn out from all of his labors and travel, and died in 1619. When his life and writings were reviewed in his cause for canonization, it was declared that he was to be honored as a doctor of the Church. Most of his writings were sermons, which stood out for teaching the faith so well.
Relics of St. Lawrence of Brindisi rest in the reliquary chapel in the Basilica.
St. Lawrence of Brindisi, you were the diplomat who used your mind and heart to build the kingdom of God—pray for us!
Image Credit: Our featured image of St. Lawrence of Brindisi is in the public domain. Last accessed March 20, 2025 on Wikimedia Commons.
