Scripture Reading
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| Jesus and the apostles in a boat |
Mark 6:30-34, 53-56 The apostles gathered around Jesus, and told him all that they had done and taught. He said to them, "Come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest a while." For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. And they went away in the boat to a deserted place by themselves. Now many saw them going and recognized them, and they hurried there on foot from all the towns and arrived ahead of them. As he went ashore, he saw a great crowd; and he had compassion for them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things. When they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret and moored the boat. When they got out of the boat, people at once recognized him, and rushed about that whole region and began to bring the sick on mats to wherever they heard he was. And wherever he went, into villages or cities or farms, they laid the sick in the marketplaces, and begged him that they might touch even the fringe of his cloak; and all who touched it were healed.
Introduction
There are many things in our lives to worry and stress about. With the comings and goings of life, work, family, friends and simply keeping up with our "to do" list our lives can be very exhausting. But with our busyness, do we respond out of compassion when asked to do just a little more? Or do we respond out of irritation?
Prayer
Dear God, let your will for me be known.
Use me, oh God, as your creation.
When a kind word needs to be spoken, use my voice.
When a load needs to be lifted, use my back.
When a hug needs to be given, use my arms.
When a journey needs to be taken, use my feet.
When a message needs to be delivered, use my mind.
When a friend needs to be loved, use my heart.
In all things, in all ways, use me God,as your instrument of love, faith, peace and tranquility. Amen.
Reflection
The response to Jesus’ ministry throughout Galilee was overwhelming, especially among those needing healing. So many were coming, says Mark, that Jesus and his disciples “had no leisure even to eat.” So finally, after many weeks of ministering to the needs of multitudes, Jesus tried to take his disciples on a retreat with him. They got into a boat and set sail on the Sea of Galilee for “a deserted place by themselves.” The thing was, many in the crowd saw Jesus’ group depart, guessed where they were going and then hurried ahead of them by land and gathered where the boat was coming to shore.
Thus, when Jesus and his party landed, they found even the “deserted place” filled with a clamoring multitude.
If you had been a disciple, how would you have felt about this development? Would you have had a burst of irritation, yelling at the crowd, “Can’t you leave us alone for a single hour?” Would you have urged Jesus to send them away or at least to deliver a lecture about respecting your need for time apart? Maybe you’d have instead huffily advised Jesus to not teach at all at that location and not heal anyone on that day so that the members of the crowd would “get the message” and give your little group some breathing room and some time to recuperate.
Jesus did none of those things, however. He saw the desperate need of the people, “and he had compassion for them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things.”
Throughout our day to day journey we are given opportunities to be compassionate to others, responding out of grace rather than irritation. How often do you take advantage of the chance to respond out of compassion? How often do you need a compassionate response but instead receive an irritable one?
Compassion takes practice. Practice compassion.
Spiritual Action
Take a moment to read the Gospel for this coming Sunday. Spend 5 minutes in silence reflecting on what you have just read. Reread the Gospel once more. Reflect on or discuss these questions:
- Who am I in this gospel story?
- Would I have responded the way Jesus did?
- When was a time that I felt compassion from another in my life?
- How can I better practice being a person of compassion?
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