There is something beautifully human about today’s Gospel. Jesus enters Simon’s house; he stands over her, restores her, and she gets up and begins to serve. As the sun sets, people bring to Jesus all those who are suffering. He does not turn them away. He touches them, heals them, expels devils out of them, and restores them. It is a beautiful picture of Jesus: He sees suffering, He stays with suffering, and He responds with compassion.
But then comes that which is unique about Jesus. Instead of staying in one place where He was so loved and needed, where He could have allowed the praises of the people to become the measure of His success, Jesus withdraws to a lonely place. The crowds find Him and want Him to stay. Understandably so. Who would not want to keep someone who heals the sick, comforts the suffering, and brings hope? But Jesus knew that His mission was larger than one place, one group, or even one set of needs, and that even good things can sometimes become distractions for the greater mission.
Perhaps this is something we need to hear. There are moments when we become so occupied with what is immediately before us that we forget the larger purpose of our lives. We can become attached to our comforts, praises, successes, and being needed. We can confuse usefulness with achievements. We can spend ourselves responding to every demand and eventually forget to ask: What is God actually asking of me? Perhaps, no matter how busy His day was, Jesus withdrew to a lonely place early in the morning, just to ask this question himself; to return to the source before He continues His mission. This solitude is not an escape from reality or a getaway from work. It was what enabled Him to continue His work more faithfully.
We, too, need those lonely places—quiet times of the day, Examen, silent retreats, etc. Not necessarily physical places, but moments of silence where we step away from the noises of this world to listen to the voice of God. Because sometimes the most faithful thing is not saying “yes” to everything, but discerning to say, “I must go on.” Hence, let us ask ourselves:
- Where in my life have I become so busy “being needed” that I have forgotten to listen to what God is actually asking of me?
- What “lonely place” do I need to return to so that I can hear God’s voice beneath the many voices competing for my attention?
- What is God inviting me to let go of—or to move beyond—so that I can more faithfully continue the mission entrusted to me?
Rev. Rashmi Fernando, SJ
I am a Jesuit priest and educator from the island nation of Sri Lanka, historically known as Serendib or Ceylon. I have been blessed to receive Jesuit formation and higher education across Asia, Europe, and America. Most recently, I earned my Doctorate in Interdisciplinary Leadership in Education (Ed.D.) from Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska, USA, where my dissertation explored global citizenship through the lens of undergraduates’ study-abroad experiences. Deeply convinced of the power of positive narratives that education can create, I believe it holds the key to addressing the ‘care-crises’ that weigh upon humanity and our shared ‘common home,’ while also emancipating individuals and communities. In addition to serving as an online faculty member with Jesuit Worldwide Learning (JWL)—Jesuit Higher Education in the Margins— to students in Africa and the Middle East, I am currently assigned to Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
Determined to make a distinctive, active, and intellectually grounded contribution through Jesuit higher education, I am deeply passionate about reading, writing, and teaching on global citizenship, interdisciplinary leadership, and justice and peacebuilding. In this spirit, I hold close the words of Helen Steiner Rice: “Life is a fabric, weave it with tender care; Upon the loom of life, your pattern is rare.” While I cherish the uniqueness that defines my own life and journey, I am equally committed and eager to recognizing, celebrating, and defending the uniqueness of others—believing that true beauty is revealed where there is unity in diversity, and diversity in unity.
Keep smiling—because God loves you always! I mean, ALWAYS!
