A single line from yesterday’s Gospel (The Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time) has been on my heart for the last day and a half. Pretty much nonstop. “He said to them, [the apostles] ‘Come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.’”

I have this problem that I suspect many Christians have – especially those involved in ministry. It’s really hard to hide.

Not because we’re so in-demand that people never leave us alone.

Not because we’re so talented that the world won’t keep spinning without us.

Because we have a sometimes-useful, sometimes-destructive drive inside of us that says “get it all done!”

I believe the drive can be used for good, but most of us overuse it. It’s so easy to become so complacent in our routine, in our prayer, in our worship, and in the core of our ministry that we’ve gone beyond “phoning it in” and the freight train of life is just blazing on while we cling helplessly, by a thread, to the caboose.

Come away. Have you slept? Have you eaten? Someone reading this will answer ‘no’ to those in the literal sense, but even if you’re physically nourished and rested, are you at peace with Jesus in your heart? When’s the last time you were able to give undistracted thanksgiving at a Eucharist?

Part of my motivation for writing this was the hope and prayer that I’d have the courage to schedule a retreat for myself by the time I clicked ‘Publish.’ No iPhone, no email, lots of Adoration, lots of prayer, lots of rest, lots of peace. I’ve got two days set aside. One is a family day. I’m focusing on our relationships with each other and with Christ, the 2nd is a silent retreat.

Do you have the courage to come away? I’ll be praying for you.