Mark 6:30-34 (16th Sunday in Ordinary Time, July 19, 2015)

Gospel:

The apostles gathered together with Jesus and reported all they had done and taught. He said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.” People were coming and going in great numbers, and they had no opportunity even to eat. So they went off in the boat by themselves to a deserted place. People saw them leaving and many came to know about it. They hastened there on foot from all the towns and arrived at the place before them. 

When he disembarked and saw the vast crowd, his heart was moved with pity for them, for they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things.

Gospel Trivia:

This passage is to be read as the second part of last Sunday's gospel, which is the sending out of the Twelve on a mission “two by two". 

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.  It 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.”*

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 themselves,” 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. (Note: 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).


It is important to find the rhythm of activity and rest to sustain our growth and progress of Kingdom-building. This rest is both physical and spiritual rest, the latter to be found in prayer and reflection of God’s promptings in our lives.  Without it, burnout ensues in our work of Kingdom building.


* Raymond E. Brown. An Introduction to the New Testament, New York: Doubleday, 1997. 135.