I believe the message of today’s Gospel for us is that we are each called in our own way to do the best we can to bring the Good News of healing and salvation to others–especially to those around us who might be confused or lost, but who at the same time hunger and thirst for purpose and direction in their lives. These are the kind of people to whom Jesus refers in today’s Gospel, those who are “like sheep without a shepherd” (see Mark 6:34).
As authentic followers of Jesus, we are each called to reach out generously to a needy world, and to those among us who want peace, health, forgiveness, sustenance, strength, acceptance, and a sense of God’s love in their lives. In truth, isn’t this a great part of what it actually means to “evangelize” or to “preach the Gospel?” Isn’t it as simple as that? I believe if we do this with great enthusiasm, then the message of our faith will be very attractive to others in the world, and they will want to flock to our churches and to be part of our faith communities.
This is exactly what Jesus and his disciples did so well, and that we find so poignantly illustrated in today’s Gospel story. Those holy men had been such effective ministers that they had become nearly overwhelmed by the frenzied crowd of people who had come to the small seaside fishing village of Capernaum to see them, so much so that the men “had no opportunity even to eat” (see Mark 6:31b).
In response to this predicament, Jesus said to them: “Come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while” (see Mark 6:31a). It’s believed that they then set out by boat and sailed approximately two miles southwest along the shores of the Sea of Galilee to an area now known as Tabgha. In a place there very close to the seashore, could be found a garden with abundant and fresh springs of pure and clear water, palm trees and flowers, and soft grassy fields (this sounds like a nice place to visit, right?). It was the perfect place to go for rest, relaxation, peace and prayer, and probably Jesus and the disciples often went to Tabgha for that purpose. Today, visitors to the Mount of the Beatitudes, which is located on a tranquil hillside just outside of Capernaum, can gaze over the magnificent Sea of Galilee and its glistening blue waters, and from there they can see many miles of the sea’s rugged shoreline; from that place on the hillside, it’s also possible to see both Capernaum and Tabgha and to realize just how close they are to one another.
With this in mind, and as we read today’s Gospel story, it’s not difficult to imagine how the people who were scrambling to see Jesus and his disciples could have chased them on foot from the one place to the other; they could see where they were going, and it was easy to follow them. The fact that Jesus and the disciples wanted to rest and to “get away from it all,” was not important to that frenzied crowd of people who were demanding their complete attention! I think this story dramatically illustrates how much of a thirst and a hunger the people of that time and place had for the Good News Jesus was offering to them. Jesus recognized this, and so the Gospel tells us that “when he disembarked and saw the vast crowd, his heart was moved with pity for them” (see Mark 6:34).
Isn’t it true that our world today is full of similar people who thirst and hunger for the same Good News (even though they may not yet fully realize what they desire)? Jesus and the disciples enthusiastically and always did the work of the Father, and they were able to bring healing, meaning and purpose to the lives of others whom they had evangelized. May we compassionately do the same for those around us today, especially by the way in which we invite them to our feast, and by the manner in which we serve them in their needs (and may we get a little rest when necessary too)!
Praise God! Friar Timothy
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