It was the voice, which caught my attention. It came from inside of the church, and it was quite obvious that the person had identified me because I was greeted by name.

It was just after one in the afternoon, and at that time the churchyard was completely deserted. I was using it as a short cut to get back to my school.  I had noted, however, that the side door of the church was slightly opened and this was unusual for that time of day.

As I entered the silent building, I recognised the young police officer who sat slumped in the pew closest to the door. I was startled by his gaunt appearance and disturbed by the sad, haunted look in his eyes.

There was an aura of quiet desperation about him. I became deeply concerned. His story was straightforward. He was, he said, allowed to use the church as he desperately needed a place to sort himself out, to think and to reflect on what was happening in his life. The parish priest, out of concern for his well being had encouraged him to use the church as a quiet place to retreat.

Personal crises, very often impel us to seek refuge in places where we can be alone – a quiet place of solace where we can reflect privately. Sometimes, we seek out quiet places where we can simply relax and be refreshed. It is another way of giving ourselves a little holiday away from the hustle and bustle of daily living.

In today’s gospel the apostles rejoin Jesus after they had completed their mission. They reveal to him “all they had done and taught.” and he invites them to “come away to some lonely place to rest for a while.”

This beautiful, touching, passage contains two significant lessons for us as Christians. Firstly we can not preach or bring the good news to others if we do not find time for personal reflection, for sharing how we feel with others or if we are not deeply united with Jesus.

Secondly, Jesus becomes our inner teacher. He guides us and leads us to those places of rest where we are restored again.

This is very important to us as Christians. Our mission or Christian ministry is  sustained through a personal relationship with Christ, as well as our relationship with other people in our lives.

The quality of these relationships depend on trust, fidelity and commitment. These are essential if we are to spread the good news to our nation, and by extension to the world in which we live.

The crowds never go away or vanish. Living the Christian life is not a form of escape. It is facing reality and responding to that reality with love, compassion and grace that Jesus imparts to us when he becomes the good news in our own lives.

It happened to Jesus and his apostles and likewise it will also happen to us. The crowds returned. In fact the crowds were already there in the lonely place that Jesus and the apostles had sought. Jesus’ response was to have pity on them “because they were like sheep without a shepherd.” Then he began to teach them.

During, the months that followed that initial meeting, I continued to keep in touch with the young officer. It was an extremely difficult period in his life.

He needed all the support he could get. Perhaps the greatest support he received came once again from another parish priest who set aside time from his own hectic parish schedule to guide and counsel the young man.

The role of our modern-day shepherds continue to be an essential asset to bringing the good news into the lives of people who feel lost, abandoned or alienated.

Through the ministry of our parish priests, lives have been transformed. Through the dedicated service of many laypersons, others have been drawn to serve and become shepherds in their communities.

About a year later, the young man greeted me. He was standing, this time, in front of the church. He exuded warmth and goodwill. Looking up into that glowing face I recognised a new man, one who had once again been restored, revived and rejuvenated.

Lord, we thank you for those experiences in our lives that draw us closer to you because of the love and compassion of the good shepherds in our midst.
We also thank you for the gift of those people who enter our lives and remind us of the need to take that time to rest or to look after ourselves. These are the people who truly care for us and sustain us at significant periods in our lives.
Lord, we are truly sorry for those times when we turned away from others because we were too busy to attend to their needs. Help us to be more sensitive to those who seek us out in order to gain support and guidance.
Lord, we pray for our Church, our nation and our world as we continue to face the challenges of modern-day living. We pray that your good shepherds will continue your mission today.

Gospel Meditations for July are by Dianne Diaz, a primary school teacher.