CROWDED

“His mother and brothers came to be with Him, but they could not reach Him because of the crowd.” –Luke 8:19

Mass Readings: September 26
First: Ezra 6:7-8,12,14-20; Resp: Psalm 122:1-5 Gospel: Luke 8:19-21

Listen to the Mass Readings

How many of us are crowded? Our lives, minds, and schedules are crowded. We have so many demands pressing in on us. We can hardly breathe. We feel crowded out from Jesus. We can’t seem to reach Him. We feel on the outside looking in (Lk 8:20).

What can we do before we’re crushed by the crowd? We can obey Jesus, hear God’s Word, act upon it (Lk 8:21), and give our lives, minds, and schedules to the Lord. Jesus never gives us more than we have time for. He never overextends us, although sometimes we know this only by faith and not by sight (2 Cor 5:7). “There is an appointed time for everything, and a time for every affair under the heavens” (Eccl 3:1). Jesus gives us sufficient strength (Phil 4:13) for what He has called us to do.

Jesus promises: “Come to Me, all you who are weary and find life burdensome, and I will refresh you. Take My yoke upon your shoulders and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble of heart. Your souls will find rest” (Mt 11:28-29). Rather than the crowd keeping us from Jesus, He keeps us from the crowd of worldly confusion.

PRAYER: Prayer: Jesus, may my personal relationship with You keep me from being crowded.
PROMISE: Promise: “The elders of the Jews continued to make progress in the building, supported by the message of the prophets, Haggai and Zechariah.” –Ezr 6:14
PRAISE: Praise: Sts. Cosmas & Damian welcomed God’s little ones by providing free medical care to those in need. They were martyred for the faith in Syria.