For whom do we live?

They were like sheep without a shepherd. These words resonate very clearly to me not just as a priest but also as a spiritual director. The question is how do I lead people to good pasture in which they can be nourished and sustained. This is no easy task as it calls me to reflect on what I seek myself and what time to I find to seek that same nourishment. We live in an age where there seems to be no end to the number of pastures in which we can graze. In fact, it is easy to leap from one to the other in a matter of seconds, whether we are googling, scrolling through our Facebook or just channel surfing. It is easy to become unfocused and distracted by so many items on the menu that we forget to actually sit down and eat. I think this is the essential part of this weekend's Gospel is that we need to find time to sit down with each other in which to encounter Jesus who will speak to our hearts. This normally happens when we attend Mass on Sunday where we are called to hear his words and be in communion with his life. There is a need to come close and rest in his presence.

It is from this encounter that we can start to make sense of our lives on a daily basis: what brings us gratitude: where do we find ourselves being renewed and refreshed; what troubles us and disturbs us; where do find ourselves being tripped up by our own sinfulness and dissipation; what do we consider to be our next step that brings hope and good news to others? Our life is not called to be one of aimless wandering. We are called to find our lives coming alive in the person of Jesus Christ. This is not just by wishful thinking but by a desire which manifests itself in how we pray and how we live. There is a desire that God wishes us to be fulfilled which brings peace to those who are far away and those who are near at hand. May we discover people who lead us to good pasture and especially during this month of July to follow Pope Francis' call to pray for priests that they may be renewed in their pastoral ministry.