Sixteenth Ordinary

The Introduction 

So the disciples went off two by two, preaching and healing and scaring off demons. And when they returned, the great works they’d performed came back to haunt them: people wouldn’t leave them alone! It’s called success, and it only leads to more work. Finally, Jesus drew his starving disciples aside to grab a bite and a chance to rest. But the deserted place didn’t stay deserted for too long. Pretty soon a large crowd had formed, dog-eyed at the dinner table, begging for scraps.

Jesus looked out at that needy sea of faces and felt heartbroken. He might have been annoyed or frustrated, but his response was what you’d expect from God: totally love-compelled. Deprived of hope, broken in body, mind and heart, plagued by evil, crowds hounded the healers because the need was so great and the possibility of help so rare. They wanted relief. They wanted a reason to believe. And so Jesus taught them. And because nothing much has changed in the world for two thousand years, the church teaches still.

How can the teaching mission of the church feed the hunger of the world?

Become a good shepherd to those around you. Be a reconciler, exercise generosity, teach by your example of patience and kindness. The Cross got us to embrace, and that was the end of hostility.

The Cross got us to embrace, and that was the end of hostility.

The Scripture (Mark 6: 31a, 32-34)

Jesus said, “Come off by yourselves; let’s take a break and get a little rest” … So they got in the boat and went off to a remote place by themselves. Someone saw them going and the word got around. From the surrounding towns people went out on foot, running, and got there ahead of them. When Jesus arrived, he saw a huge crowd. At the sight of them, his heart broke – like sheep with no shepherd. He went right to work teaching them.

The Story – In It for the Long Haul

We spent last weekend with my niece, her husband, and their 1-year-old son. The little boy is going through a stage where his parents are his primary source of comfort and joy. I observed his grandmother holding him, loving, and talking to him as she gently rocked him. But within a few minutes, the little one heard his mother’s voice in the next room. He made it clear that he wanted “down” and off he went, like a little homing pigeon, following the sound of his mother’s voice. He found her talking with another family member. The toddler made it clear that he wanted her attention. So his mother bent over and opened her arms. He flew into them. And there he rested, secure and happy.

With the birth of children, parents lose the freedom to simply be. Their time is no longer their own, as the needs of the children regularly takes precedence over all else. In the eyes of their children, parents are the people who love them, protect them, and show them the way to live each day. It’s fair to say parents are rock stars in the lives of their children. The privilege of parenthood is great but so is the responsibility. And as much as parents might yearn and need to find a deserted place to rest awhile, that’s not easy to do in daily life.

The apostles were teaching and healing in Jesus’ name, and the crowds would not leave them alone. It was a privilege to do the work. But it was also exhausting.

The Reflection

There was a famous General who met a poor shepherd. The shepherd was distressed because he had lost a lamb and could not find it. The General offered to help and sent his soldiers in search of the lamb. One by one the soldiers returned to camp hungry, muddied and feeling too tired to carry on. It was dark by then and they felt they could do nothing more. The next morning, just as it was getting light, the General was seen coming into the camp carrying the lamb under his greatcoat to keep it warm. This is what made him a great leader: he was not put off and he did not think of himself too much. He only stopped looking for the lamb when it was found.

The Commissioning

Keep us alert to your presence, O God.
Keep us alert to your presence, O God.
In the early morning, may we know your Spirit is with us.
Keep us alert to your presence, O God.
In the heat of the day, in the midst of our activities, may we realise that you stay with us.
Keep us alert to your presence, O God.
At the end of the day, as we come to rest, may we give thanks that you will never leave us.
Keep us alert to your presence, O God. Amen.

GPBS © (2024)

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