Jesus had just sent the disciples two by two. They drove out demons and healed the sick. They returned and told Jesus all that they had done. He then tells them to go to a “deserted place” to rest. From the verse “people were coming and going in great numbers, and they had no opportunity even to eat,” we get an idea of the breadth and scope of Jesus’ ministry.
They tried to get away by boat but the crowd “hastened there on foot” and arrived ahead of them. We see the eagerness of the people to hear and see Jesus. He saw the need of the people as they were like “sheep without a shepherd”. Instead of being annoyed that the crowd followed them, Jesus responded with compassion. He taught them “many things,” which in another version is translated as “proceeded to teach them at length”. This passage is then followed by the miracle of the multiplication of the bread.
INTERPRETATION:
This passage (Mark 6:30-34) is to be read as the second part of Mark 6:6-13 which is the sending out of the Twelve on a mission “two by two,” which is last Sunday’s gospel. It is interrupted by Mark 6:14-29, which is the account of the killing of John the Baptist by Herod.
We should therefore interpret this passage in relation to the mission of the disciples. “The disciples mission is to preach a change of mind, drive out demons, and cure the sick is an extension of Jesus’ own mission; and he gives them the power to accomplish this. The austere conditions (no food, money, luggage) would make it clear any results were not effected by human means.”[1]
In this Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus commands the Twelve to rest and take a breather. But the rest is more than just physical rest because Jesus also asks them to be “by [them]selves,” and with Jesus, as well as away from the crowd. The kind of rest referred to is both physical and spiritual rest, prior to another flurry of activity in managing the huge crowd in the feeding of the five thousand.
The kind of rest that Jesus can provide is like that of the shepherd who cares for the flock.
The “sheep without a shepherd” is used by Moses in Numbers 27:17 when he asks God to give the Israelites a leader. God appoints Joshua. “Jesus” is the Greek variant of the name Joshua in Hebrew. Jesus IS the good shepherd and he has compassion for his sheep. (The original word used for compassion is “esplanchnisthe,” which refers to one’s guts, and is the strongest word to express a deep feeling of sympathy).
GENERALIZATION:
It is important to find the rhythm of activity and rest to sustain our growth and progress of Kingdom-building. Otherwise, burnout ensues. This rest is both physical and spiritual rest, the latter to be found in prayer and reflection of God’s promptings in our lives.
Vincent de Paul advises, "Be careful to preserve your health. It is a trick of the devil, which he employs to deceive good souls, to incite them to do more than they are able, in order that they may no longer be able to do anything."
APPLICATION:
Take a look and examine how you handle the various aspects of your life:
· How much time have you taken to rest, to be with your family, to go into deep prayer?
· Have you balanced your time with work in the office and work in the Apostolate?
· What aspect of your life is being put in the background that should be more in the forefront? Give a concrete step to have a more balanced life.
[1] Raymond E. Brown. An Introduction to the New Testament, New York: Doubleday, 1997. 135.
