THAT FEELING YOU GET WHEN YOU RUN OUT OF GAS

Jesus and his disciples came to land at Gennesaret

and tied up there. People immediately recognized him.

They scurried about the surrounding country and began

to bring in the sick on mats to wherever they heard

he was. Many were healed.

Mark 6:53-56

Jesus had a helper’s reputation so no sooner than his boat landed and tied up in Gennesaret, word got out and people swarmed around him from everywhere wanting something from him. To put it bluntly, they came to get something! Only people in helping professions, especially those who are good at it, understand what it’s like. They know what it’s like to be swarmed by needy people always wanting something.

There are those who simply make use of the church. I often joke about it by saying something like this, “People never call the rectory and ask the priest how he is doing or what can they do for him.” No, they usually want him to do something for them or their families – a hospital visit, a baptism or a funeral – or they want to register a complaint or report a disaster to which he needs to look into!

There are some children who simply use their parents. A growing number of them expect their parents to provide a free home with services for their comfort and convenience without ever having to contribute any help, assistance and appreciation or offering to give them a night out or show their gratitude. Some even move back in when they get in a crisis that they have often contributed to creating, against the advice of their parents!

There are those who simply make use of God. I am actually shocked at how many people never attend church, never say a prayer or never read a spiritual book unless they face a serious personal crisis. Their only prayers are not prayers of praise or gratitude, but requests and demands. They treat God like a bell-hop at a hotel. At a hotel, all a guest has to do is ring the bell and the bell-hop will appear to fetch anything the guest wants. Worse than that are those who actually get angry at God because he will not respond to what they want at a time they want it.

If we think about it, we are all to some extent, guilty of these things. Wouldn’t it be nice if we could sometimes come to God more with our love, service and devotion, rather than just when we need something?