First reading 1 Kings 3:4-13
Solomon chooses the gift of wisdom
King Solomon went to Gibeon to sacrifice there, since that was the greatest of the high places – Solomon offered a thousand holocausts on that altar. At Gibeon the Lord appeared in a dream to Solomon during the night. God said, ‘Ask what you would like me to give you.’ Solomon replied, ‘You showed great kindness to your servant David, my father, when he lived his life before you in faithfulness and justice and integrity of heart; you have continued this great kindness to him by allowing a son of his to sit on his throne today. Now, O Lord my God, you have made your servant king in succession to David my father. But I am a very young man, unskilled in leadership. Your servant finds himself in the midst of this people of yours that you have chosen, a people so many its number cannot be counted or reckoned. Give your servant a heart to understand how to discern between good and evil, for who could govern this people of yours that is so great?’ It pleased the Lord that Solomon should have asked for this. ‘Since you have asked for this’ the Lord said ‘and not asked for long life for yourself or riches or the lives of your enemies, but have asked for a discerning judgement for yourself, here and now I do what you ask. I give you a heart wise and shrewd as none before you has had and none will have after you. What you have not asked I shall give you too: such riches and glory as no other king ever had.’
Responsorial Psalm 118(119):9-14
Lord, teach me your statutes.
How shall the young remain sinless?
By obeying your word.
I have sought you with all my heart;
let me not stray from your commands.
I treasure your promise in my heart
lest I sin against you.
Blessed are you, O Lord;
teach me your statutes.
With my tongue I have recounted
the decrees of your lips.
I rejoiced to do your will
as though all riches were mine.
Gospel Mark 6:30-34
They were like sheep without a shepherd
The apostles rejoined Jesus and told him all they had done and taught. Then he said to them, ‘You must come away to some lonely place all by yourselves and rest for a while’; for there were so many coming and going that the apostles had no time even to eat. So they went off in a boat to a lonely place where they could be by themselves. But people saw them going, and many could guess where; and from every town they all hurried to the place on foot and reached it before them. So as he stepped ashore he saw a large crowd; and he took pity on them because they were like sheep without a shepherd, and he set himself to teach them at some length.
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To find rest in Jesus
In today’s Gospel, the disciples of Jesus are exhausted after dedicating themselves to their mission work. Jesus notices their fatigue and tells them, “You must come away to a lonely place all by yourselves and rest for a while.” Like the disciples, we often find ourselves incredibly busy. We rush, run, and hurry so much that we sometimes forget how to be quiet and still. Today, let us accept Jesus’ invitation to come to Him, spend time with Him, and find rest in His presence. With Jesus, we can be renewed with new strength, new hope, and new peace.
As Jesus and His disciples set off in a boat, a crowd sees them and hurriedly follows them. Jesus’ heart is full of compassion for the crowd because He sees them like sheep without a shepherd. He sits down and teaches them, offering comfort and strength to the weary group, including His tired disciples who listen in. Today offers us a chance to dedicate time and space to be with Jesus and give Him our full attention. His presence brings us peace, and His words provide us strength.
Reflective question:
How can I prioritise time and space to be with Jesus despite my busy schedule?
Acknowledgment: Reflections are based on “Prayer for Living: The Word of God for Daily Prayer Year A” by Sr Maria Jose FMVD
