Posted on 02/08/2025 5:17:40 AM PST by fidelis
“Come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.” Mark 6:34
The Twelve had just returned from going about the countryside preaching the Gospel. They were tired. Jesus, in His compassion, invites them to come away with Him to rest for a while. So they get in a boat to cross over to a deserted place. But when the people hear about this, they hurry on foot to the place that their boat was heading. So, when the boat arrives, there is a crowd awaiting them.
Of course, Jesus does not get upset. He does not get discouraged by the burning desire of the people to be with Him and the Twelve. Instead, the Gospel relates that when Jesus saw them, “his heart was moved with pity,” and He began to teach them many things.
In our own lives, after serving others well, it’s understandable to desire rest. Even Jesus desired this for Himself and His Apostles. But the one thing that Jesus permitted to “interrupt” His rest was the clear desire of the people to be with Him and to be fed by His preaching. There is much to learn from this example of our Lord.
For example, there are many times when a parent may only want to be alone for a while, and yet family concerns arise that need their attention. Priests and religious may also have unexpected duties that arise from their ministry that can, at first, appear to interrupt their plans. The same can be said for any vocation or situation in life. We may think we need one thing, but then duty calls and we find we are needed in a different way.
One key to sharing in the apostolic mission of Christ, be it to our families, Church, communities or friends, is to be ready and willing to be generous with our time and energy. It’s true that prudence will dictate the need for rest at times, but at other times the call to charity will supersede what we perceive as a legitimate need for our own rest and relaxation. And when true charity is demanded of us, we will always find that our Lord gives us the needed grace to be generous with our time. It is often in those moments when our Lord chooses to use us in ways that are truly transforming for others.
Reflect, today, upon the true needs of those around you. Are there people who would greatly benefit from your time and attention today? Are there needs that others have that will require you to change your plans and to give of yourself in a way that is difficult? Do not hesitate to give generously of yourself to others. In fact, this form of charity is not only transforming for those whom we serve, it is often one of the most restful and rejuvenating activities we can also do for ourselves.
My generous Lord, You gave of Yourself without reserve. People came to You in their need, and You did not hesitate to serve them out of love. Give me a heart that imitates Your generosity and help me to always say “Yes” to the charitable work to which I am called. May I learn to find great joy in serving others, especially in those unplanned and unexpected circumstances of life. Jesus, I trust in You.
Please keep in mind that this is a Catholic Caucus/Devotional thread for the purpose of prayerful reflection on the Sacred Scriptures and is closed to debate of any kind. Per FR policy on Religion Caucus threads, off-topic, argumentative, and abusive comments are not allowed and will be submitted to the Mods for deletion. Thanks, and God bless you.
February is the month dedicated to devotion to the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph:
“And Jesus went down with Mary and Joseph and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them; and his mother kept all these things in her heart. And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature, and in favor with God and man. ”
(Luke 2:51-52)
First Reading:
From: Hebrews 13:15-17, 20-21
Religious Duties--Obeying Lawful Pastors; Religious Worship (Continuation)
-----------------------------------------------------------
[15] Through him (Jesus) then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. [16] Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.
[17] Obey your leaders and submit to them; for they are keeping watch over your souls, as men who will have to give account. Let them do this joyfully, and not sadly, for that would be of no advantage to you.
Epilogue
--------
[20] Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, [21] equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in you that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
***********************************************************************
Commentary:
15-16. The text presupposes the Old Testament distinction between the "sin offering" and other offerings. The sin offering was made publicly on the great Day of Atonement. The other offerings, particularly those not involving the shedding of blood--first fruits, fruit and loaves, which the faithful present to God in thanksgiving and praise—were called "peace offerings", among which the most prominent was the "sacrifice of thanksgiving" (cf. Lev 7:12; Ps 50:14; 116:17).
In the New Testament the faithful, exercising their spiritual priesthood (cf. Rom 12:1; Heb 12;28), offer sacrifices acceptable to God--prayer (made by lips which confess God), good works, alms, etc.
Already, through the prophets, God had made it plain that he abhorred sacrifices which were merely external (cf. 1 Sam 15:22, Is 1:11-17; Jer 6:20; Amos 5:21-22): what he wanted was a pure and humble heart (cf. Is 58:6-8). Jesus said the same (cf. Mt 5:23-24; Mk 11:25; Lk 18:9-14). So, too, in the New Covenant, Christ wants all followers to exercise that priesthood which consists in doing good and offering to God all the little sacrifices each day involves: "Since he wishes to continue his witness and his serving through the laity also, the supreme and eternal priest, Christ Jesus, vivifies them with his spirit and ceaselessly impels them to accomplish every good and perfect work" (Vatican II, "Lumen Gentium", 34).
17-19. Emphasis is put here on the duty all Christians have to pray especially for those who are placed in authority over them.
"We owe two things to those who govern us in the spiritual sphere. First, obedience, to do what they tell us; and then reverence, to honor them like parents and accept the discipline they propose" (Chrysostom, "Hom. on Heb.", 13, 3).
"You are under an obligation to pray and sacrifice yourself for the person and intentions of whoever is 'in charge' of your apostolic undertaking. If you are careless in fulfilling this duty, you make me think that you lack enthusiasm for your way" (St J. Escriva, "The Way", 953).
20-21. The epistle ends in the same kind of way as the Pauline epistles do--with a doxology and some words of farewell. In these verses, "the God of peace" is invoked; he is the only one who can give true peace, decreeing that men should be reconciled to him through the action of Christ; and Jesus is described as "the great shepherd"; once more there is this paralleling the Exodus/Old Covenant with entry into heaven. Just as Moses brought the people of Israel into the promised land the way a shepherd leads his sheep (cf. Is 63:11), so Jesus Christ, the shepherd par excellence (cf. Jn 10:10-16; 1 Pet 2:25; 5:4), has led his sheep into the glory of heaven.
Verse 21 links Christian teaching on grace with man's response to that grace. Commenting on this passage St Thomas Aquinas explains that the words "equip you with everything good that you may do his will" is the same as saying "may God make you desire everything good", because it is God's will that we act of our own free will. If we did not act freely, our will would not be good; if we do God's will we will always be doing what is good for us (cf. "Commentary on Heb., ad loc."). God has disposed man's will to choose to do what is right. It is up to man to respond to God's design. In this sense, God "equips us with everything good that you may do his will".
--------------------------------
Gospel Reading:
From: Mark 6:30-34
The Apostles Return
-------------------
[30] The Apostles returned to Jesus, and told Him all that they had done and taught. [31] And He said to them, "Come away by yourselves to a lonely place, and rest a while." For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. [32] And they went away in the boat to a lonely place by themselves.
First Miracles of the Loaves
----------------------------
[33] Now many saw them going, and knew them, and they ran there on foot from the towns, and got there ahead of them. [34] As He landed He saw a great throng, and He had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd; and He began to teach them many things.
***********************************************************************
Commentary:
30-31. We can see here the intensity of Jesus' public ministry. Such was His dedication to souls that St. Mark twice mentions that the disciples did not even have time to eat (cf. Mark 3:20). A Christian should be ready to sacrifice his time and even his rest in the service of the Gospel. This attitude of availability will lead us to change our plans whenever the good of souls so requires.
But Jesus also teaches us here to have common sense and not to go to such extremes that we physically cannot cope: "The Lord makes His disciples rest, to show those in charge that people who work or preach cannot do so without breaks" (St. Bede, "In Marci Evangelium Expositio, in loc."). "He who pledges himself to work for Christ should never have a free moment, because to rest is not to do nothing: it is to relax in activities which demand less effort" (St J. Escriva, "The Way", 357).
34. Our Lord had planned a period of rest, for Himself and His disciples, from the pressures of the apostolate (Mark 6:31-32). And He has to change His plans because so many people come, eager to hear Him speak. Not only is He not annoyed with them: He feels compassion on seeing their spiritual need. "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge" (Hosea 4:6). They need instruction and our Lord wants to meet this need by preaching to them. "Jesus is moved by hunger and sorrow, but what moves Him most is ignorance" (St J. Escriva, "Christ Is Passing By", 109).
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
