Mark 6,30-34.
Today’s gospel provides a report on the results of the Mission of the twelve we heard of in last Sunday’s gospel. The twelve return to Jesus and tell him all they had done and taught. Here for the first time Mark calls them apostles. An apostle literally means one who is sent. They had been sent on their first mission by Jesus and empowered by him to preach and drive out evil spirits. They were bound to have felt a sense of achievement having completed their first mission. The hectic life continues, for they are so busy on their return that they have no time even to eat. For Jesus it is imperative that they go off to a quiet place and rest for a while. They needed to take time out to rest, reflect, pray and share, to return to being disciples again. The definition of a disciple for Mark is to be with Jesus.
They set sail in a boat to go to a lonely place where they could be by themselves. But the plan did not work out, at least, for Jesus. The crowds seeing them sailing off had guessed their destination and were waiting for them as they stepped ashore. Jesus felt pity and compassion for them because they were like sheep without a shepherd. They were lost, leaderless, and neglected, without purpose or direction in their lives and their relationship with God.
In today’s first reading Jeremiah, who ministered in Israel (from 627-587 BC), rebuked the shepherds (leaders) who neglected and misled the people of Israel. In today’s gospel reading Jesus set himself to teach the people at some length. We are not given the content of Jesus’ teaching but from the description of the people we can guess that it would have given them a strong sense that they mattered to God who had a loving, saving plan, tailor- made for people’s needs.
At the very time when Jesus and his disciples are busiest, he requires them to sail away and take a break in lonely place all by themselves and rest for a while. We can learn from his example. We can be so busy with the work of the Lord that we have no time left for the Lord of the work.
Detaching ourselves from our preoccupations/work and going off to a lonely place with the Lord is something we all need to do. That lonely place away from the “madding crowd” and the hustle and bustle of life could be a quiet ten minutes at home, or in the office, when we park what we are doing, and turn to the Lord in our thoughts, words or silence, and become present to him and He to us.
Many people in their offices each day visit the websites, “Sacred Space”, or” Pray as you Go,” to pray and collect their thoughts. Have a look at those sites if you already haven’t. done so They and many other sites are always inspiring and uplifting.
He set himself to teach them at some length — if only we would let him teach us also!
Fr Geoff O’Grady