Bulletin Column: The Spiritual Benefits of Retreat

Peace and greetings to all in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ on the Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time. In today's Gospel we hear about the call of Simon Peter, along with James and John, to follow Jesus as his disciples. 

This encounter is one of my personal favorites in Jesus' public ministry. One can easily envision him teaching on the shores of Galilee and performing the sign of the miraculous catch of fish. St. Luke tells us that the fishermen were astonished and that this event "seized him (Peter) and all those with him" (Luke 5:9). Perhaps more surprising than their boats nearly sinking by the weight of the fish is what happens next: Jesus says, "do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men" (Luke 5:70). Amazingly they heard the call of Jesus and "brought their boats to the shore ... left everything and followed him" (Luke 5:77).

There is nothing more profound than the miracle of the conversion of the human heart and the movement of one's life towards God. This Gospel gives us a wonderful opportunity to consider our own relationship with God. In what way is God speaking his word to us, changing our heart, and calling us to live as his faithful disciple? 

The Church, in her wisdom, points to many spiritual practices that can help us on our pathway to a deeper relationship with God. They include the study of sacred scripture, serving the poor, the practice of the spiritual and corporal works of mercy, full incorporation of the sacramental life of the Church, serving in works of mission and evangelization, and most importantly prayer. Another spiritual practice for those who desire to grow as mature disciples is to go on a retreat. Though an often forgotten spiritual practice, retreats are a very important part of the spiritual life. 

One may ask what are the spiritual benefits of going on a retreat? While I'm sure there is a more exhaustive list, I would like to suggest four primary spiritual fruits of making a retreat. 

• The first is that a retreat provides a real opportunity for us to listen. We all live in a busy and very noisy world that often distracts us from really listening to the voice of God. The Gospel today begins with a description of the crowd who "was pressing in on Jesus and listening to the word of God" (Luke 5:7). A retreat, by temporarily setting aside the noise and distraction of everyday life, allows us to press into Jesus and more carefully listen to his word. 
• Secondly, a retreat allows us to go to a place of interior solitude. Jesus both taught and modeled this important spiritual reality. In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus taught that "when you pray, go to your inner room, close the door, and pray to your Father in secret" (Matthew 6:6).Of course, what he is describing is not a physical space but rather the interior room of our soul. A retreat, whether in silence or in community, makes time for us to do what Jesus himself did as "he would withdraw to deserted places to pray" (Luke 5:76).
• Thirdly, a retreat provides a wonderful opportunity for spiritual recalibration. Setting aside dedicated time to God allows us to reflect on how we are doing, where are we struggling, and where do we need to grow. They provide space to recommit our life to Christ and, in some cases, to reconnect with the sacraments if we have been away from them.
• And finally, retreats help us deepen our personal prayer life, which is the foundation of our relationship with God. 

In conclusion I would like to invite you to consider joining us for one of the upcoming retreats offered by St. Michael Catholic Church. These are both full weekend retreats (Friday evening through Sunday afternoon) and are led by Father Park.