Parents empathise with Jesus’ predicament in this gospel from Mark (Mark 6:30-34). Murphy’s law applies that when parents are exhausted and all they want is rest, their children make demands on them. Parents rise to the occasion, as Jesus does when the people want more. Nevertheless, he and we need rest.

Rest is a good thing! It is not laziness. Hopefully we all have purpose in our lives and spend much time and effort pursuing that: studying, exploring, parenting, making a living and compassionately outreaching to the world.

Our value though is inherent in us, not a function of what or how much we do. We “do” in response to the needs we prayerfully discern when we spend quiet, reflective time with God. Recharging our batteries.

God already knows us intimately and isn’t impressed by our crushing workload, our imposing titles, or our remarkable achievements in work and play. Astoundingly, what God wants is quality time with us. Quality time in 2024 might mean no devices or media – even for a whole day (horror of horrors!), alone with none but our God. If this sounds difficult (as it does for me) then you probably really need it!

Deep within we crave this time of stepping aside from all our tasks and activities, into a quiet place, quietening our minds, allowing Jesus to nourish us with his life-giving word. Perhaps (and parents know this well) a total rest day is an unattainable luxury at present. Then we need to find other ways and strategies. To build in an early morning and/or a late evening time of prayer and quiet reflection on the day to come [or the day past] and our place in it with God.

Deacon Mark Kelly