A disciple deepens their relationship with God by setting aside intentional time for reflection and renewal.
In the fast-paced world we live in, the idea of taking time to retreat seems nearly impossible … and, somehow, even lazy (by contemporary standards!)
But do you know that God truly wants us to retreat?
Let’s first consider what retreat means. The “R” in CHRIST is packed full of meaning for us. You see, there are actually 5 more “R’s” to retreat: rest, relax, reflect, and renew which lead to relationship.
We need all the first R’s for the final R, in order to develop and deepen our relationship with God.
Slowing down and taking a step back allows us to reconnect with God (there’s another “R”!), to reflect on His Word and His loving action in our lives, and to renew our spirits. Retreating can lead us to a place of calm. When we establish moments of stillness, we allow God’s peace to enter our lives, to remind us of His awesome love for us. And when we achieve peace in retreat, we can truly recognize and appreciate God’s incredible mercy and grace in our lives.
The final words of our first reading [Habakkuk 1:2-3; 2:2-4] tell us that the just one will live because of faith. When we call out to God in times of trial, as the speaker in our first reading does, we must then step away from our burdens and take time in retreat to truly listen to God’s response and reassurance … and, in doing so, we will live, truly and fully.
And when we do hear His voice, we must entrust ourselves to Him and not harden our hearts out of fear that His will may be painful or difficult, as we learn in the Responsorial Psalm [Psalm 95:1-2, 6-7, 8-9].
In the second reading [2 Timothy 1:6-8, 13-14], St. Paul calls us to “stir into flame” the gifts that God has given us. If we are constantly moving and distracted, how will we have time to even recognize, let alone stir into flame, those gifts? We must intentionally set aside the time to rest, relax and reflect on God’s gifts, renewing the flame in our hearts to use our gifts to serve God.
And in our Gospel [Luke 17:5-10], Jesus teaches us that even a small amount of faith can accomplish great things and He emphasizes the importance of humility and service in the Kingdom of God. How do we cultivate such faith, humility and service amidst the busyness of our contemporary lives? Only in regular retreat will we find the quiet, the peace and the clarity we need to do so.