Word to the Wise
Saturday, February 6, 2021 - Saturday in the 4th Week in Ordinary Time
[Heb 13:15-17, 20-21 and Mark 6:30-34]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 awhile." 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 Jesus 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."[Mark]
FEBRUARY 6 ST. PAUL MIKI s.j.AND COMPANIONS [martyrs]
The big picture of the Gospel According to Mark contrasts the acceptance of Jesus by ordinary folks with his rejection by religious authorities and his own kinfolk. That acceptance, however, came with a price, as today's passage shows. He and the Apostles try to hold a debriefing session after the Apostles' first experience of preaching and healing, but the crowds won't leave them alone! The crowds figure out where the boat is headed and get there ahead of Jesus and the Apostles!
I have seen the line, "Come away to a deserted place and rest a while!" in many retreat facilities. However, even those places will have internet!! In our culture, we may give lip service to the value of spiritual "R&R" but our cell phones will be close at hand! Suggesting to a mom or dad in spiritual direction that they ask their spouse to hold the fort so he or she can make a weekend retreat (let alone a longer time) will get me a frustrated response. Telling an "activist" that he or she needs to "give it a rest" is heresy. "I can't! They need me!" My response is, "Do they need you alive or dead?" Even Jesus seems to fall prey to the problem!
I am certainly not immune! Otherwise this reflection would not appear daily! But I am required by and gladly obey the requirement by Dominican constitutions to make a six day retreat each year (OK I might fudge to five!). My more introverted nature demands it anyhow. I feel for the more extroverted folks who find solitude difficult. But Jesus recognized the problem and recommended the solution. One wonders why he and the Apostles didn't turn the boat around and go elsewhere? AMEN