Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time – August 11, 2024
“That’s it. I’m done!” I’m sure we’ve all felt like Elijah at some point: exhausted, afraid, tapped out, questioning our choices, catastrophizing the situation, and feeling sorry for ourselves or just plain “hangry.” Then there’s the sadness, anger, or depression that no snack or nap can fully heal.
As ministers, we naturally want to give our time and energy to others, often at our expense. So it’s even more important for us to let ourselves and one another “feel our feelings” when we have nothing left to give and to seek care from those who can help us restore our physical, emotional, and mental health.
Jesus’s table ministry and Elijah’s restorative angel show us that corporal and spiritual care for ourselves and others are necessary for the mission.
Feelings are promptings from the Holy Spirit. Like Elijah’s angel, they are messengers prodding us to pay attention to what our bodies need and to rest and give ourselves over to sleep. These too are acts of faith in God who neither sleeps nor slumbers. Of course our spiritual health needs nourishment, and the Eucharist is the heavenly food for our soul. But Jesus’s table ministry and Elijah’s restorative angel show us that corporal and spiritual care for ourselves and others are necessary for the mission.
Whether it is healing of mind, body, or spirit, Christian self-care always involves and leads back to the community, for healing is for blessing. So listen to your angels! Eat, rest, and keep going.
Leave a Reply