From this Sunday’s gospel: “The apostles gathered together with Jesus and reported all they had done and taught. He said to them, ‘Come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.’ People were coming and going in great numbers, and they had no opportunity even to eat. So they went off in the boat by themselves to a deserted place. People saw them leaving and many came to know about it. They hastened there on foot from all the towns and arrived at the place before them. When he disembarked and saw the vast crowd, his heart was moved with pity for them, for they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things."

“The members of the flock of Jesus Christ are also obliged to hear their shepherd’s voice. It is, then, your duty to teach the children entrusted to you; this is your duty every day." (De La Salle, Med. 33.3)

It has been my prayer this summer that your time away from school, including the next few days, has been a time of peace and a source of refreshment. Today’s gospel reminds us why that rest is so important. Just like the crowds in Mark’s gospel, tomorrow over one hundred freshmen will arrive, before many of us, at San Miguel for more CIP training. And next week, all of the rest will follow. They are coming because, like Jesus, we have much to offer, and, no matter how aware they are of it, the students are in need of what is offered here. De La Salle reminds us that, also like Jesus, we are to shepherd and teach all those who are flocking to San Miguel and have been entrusted to our care. So in our prayers this week, remember our freshmen starting the San Miguel Institute and their devoted and caring shepherds. But let us also pray that the rest of us will be ready. The sheep of this year’s flock have arrived, ready to hear the voices and model the actions of their shepherds – our words, our actions.

Live, Jesus, in our hearts!