Homily for Saturday 9th February 2019
_“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. And they went away in the boat to a lonely place by themselves.” *(Mark 6:31-32)*_
In our Gospel passage this morning, the disciples after receiving authority from Jesus to preach, heal the sick and cast out demons had just returned from the mission. Jesus could see that they were tired so he told them to go to a quiet place and rest.
Our responsorial psalm sings: “The Lord is my shepherd, there is nothing I shall want, NEAR RESTFUL WATERS he leads me to revive my drooping spirit.” Tiredness is not a sin. God designed us in such a way that our bodies operate according to a rhythm of work and rest. Without work, rest becomes idleness and without rest, work becomes suicide.
Note that Jesus does not ask his disciples to go and sleep. He told them to go to a lonely place (that is, a quiet place) to rest for a while. This kind of rest is called a RETREAT. It is a type of rest we take away from social media and the noises of the modern world just so that we can quieten our hearts to PRAY AND MEDITATE.
Sadly, people would not let Jesus and his disciples rest. As soon as they noticed where they were going, they ran there on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them. As Jesus landed with his disciples, there was already a great throng waiting for them.
Surprisingly, Jesus is not angry with them for disturbing his planned rest. He looks at them with compassion and starts teaching them. The best time to help people is when you really do not feel like helping at all. This is a true test of your resemblance to Jesus. Most of us would have simply dismissed the crowd on the basis of “can’t you see I am tired?”
Jesus felt pity for them because they were like sheep without a shepherd. Their flocking around him was a result of the failure of the religious leaders of that time who fed fat on the people rather than feed the people with true spiritual nourishment. What kind of leader am I? If Jesus comes now, how would he describe those under my care?
Away from the religious angle, as politicians, government workers or public office holders, we are also shepherds to thousands of people. Would Jesus also say of my flock that they are like sheep without a shepherd? Am I the type of politician that is totally incommunicado, far removed from the people, impossible to see, for four good years only to start knocking doors from house to house simple because elections are around the corner?
Am I the leader who bribes my people during the campaign with peanuts and never do anything for them afterwards other than enriching myself and my family with resources meant for the people’s welfare? Do I tell lies? What kind of shepherd am I?
The book of Hebrews today says “Obey your leaders and submit to them; they are keeping watch over your souls, as men who will give account.” This means we have a duty to our leaders and they too have a grave responsibility on their hands to which they will give account. Better not get into leadership position than go there with selfish intentions because for every life lost, for every family torn apart, for every child destroyed, for every evil that could have been prevented by your good office, God will hold you responsible.
Let us pray: Lord Jesus, We thank you for letting us see the end of another busy week. Help us to rest and may our resting be an occasion to revive our spirits. Amen.
Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you. (Saturday of the 4th Week in Ordinary Time. Bible Study: Hebrews 13:15-21, Psalm 23 and Mark 6:30-34).
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