The scene for this coming Sunday’s gospel follows upon last week's reading when Jesus sent his disciples out on their first missionary activities. They are back now, overjoyed by their successes but exhausted from their efforts. Wisely, Jesus suggests that they come away with him to a quiet place and rest awhile. No doubt Jesus himself looked forward to some relaxing and downtime with those first enthusiastic followers (Mark 6: 30-34).
But things don't turn out as planned. Hungry for the person and the Word of Jesus, people see them leaving, guess where they are going, and get there ahead of them.
I wonder what our reaction would be if our much-needed plans for some downtime and R&R were suddenly interrupted in this way. Would we react to that vast crowd as Jesus did? Would we be as ready as he was to see, not an unwelcomed interruption of plans, but another opportunity to serve?
Some of the most beautiful words in all of scripture describe the reaction of Jesus: in seeing the vast crowd before him, "his heart was moved with pity for them." That says it all. As the Good Shepherd he sees before him sheep who are eager to be fed upon the holy bread of God's Word and so, "he began to teach them many things."
There are many valuable lessons from this beautiful gospel. First, the eager people themselves. They want to hear God's Word and nothing, not even a difficult trek to a deserted place and perhaps an unwelcome greeting by the weary disciples, will stop them from coming to Jesus. Those good people teach us much about the importance of following the Word and Person of Jesus no matter how challenging it may be, especially in a world such as ours which, at times today, seems less and less interested in hearing or heeding his Gospel values. And as Covid-19 restrictions begin to lift more and more, let us be as eager as the people in this gospel to return to our parishes to encounter Jesus in hearing his Gospel and in receiving his Bread of Life!
The disciples give us a valuable lesson as well. They are truly exhausted and certainly entitled to some much-needed rest and a little quiet time alone with Jesus in some deserted place, away from everything and everybody. As this chapter of Mark teaches us, we too need both bread for the body and spiritual food for the soul. Do we perhaps spend too much energy and effort on the first and too little of both on the second?
The best lesson of all is from Jesus himself. In this vast and determined crowd he doesn't see an interruption to his plans but an opportunity to serve, to teach, and to feed both hungry bodies and eager spirits. So, don't worry about bothering Jesus when you go to him again and again with your prayers and hopes, with your dreams and difficulties, with your pain and disappointments. He will welcome you every time with open arms, a broad smile, and a very welcoming heart! He is, after all, the Good Shepherd!
Rev. Lewis S. Fiorelli, OSFS
Provincial
Wilmington-Philadelphia Province
