7/18 - 16th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Today’s Gospel passage presents the sympathetic and merciful heart of Jesus who lovingly invites the apostles to a desolate place for some rest. This passage is transitional in Mark. It brings to a close the first mission of the twelve (6:7 - 13) which we reflected on last week and is a prelude to the story of the feeding of the five thousand (6:34 - 44). Jesus had sent his apostles on their first healing, teaching, and preaching mission to prepare the people they visited for the Coming of the Promised One, Jesus. When they returned, they were no doubt exhilarated by the experience. The ordi-nary people that they were, experienced extra-ordinary miracles worked in the name of Jesus. Nonetheless, they were hungry, exhausted, and in need of rest, both physical and spiritual. In fact, Jesus was eager to hear about their missionary adventures as they proudly shared their experiences. But Jesus, too, needed a break from the crowds who were constantly pressing in, demanding attention and healing. Hence, he led the Apostles by boat to a “deserted place” on the other side of the Lake intending to give them all a period of rest and sharing.
The pressure of the crowd is a ‘Marcan motif’. The large number precluded any respite for the disciples. Moving with speed and determination, they arrive at the destination on foot ahead of the disciples by boat. Lake Galilee or Lake Tiberias in Hebrew is known by its biblical name, Yam Kinneret, "Sea of Kinnereth". The name may originate from the Hebrew
16th Sunday in Ordinary Time July 18, 2021word kinnor ("harp" or "lyre") - which the lake's shape resembles. At its widest spot it is just 8 miles. So, we can imagine how a group of people could walk along the shore to meet a boat that was sailing across. There is no shade of annoyance in Jesus' attitude despite the crowd's thwart-ing his desire to rest. He begins to teach at once, bringing to life the prophetic word of Jeremiah and others that Yahweh's people would be shepherded (Num 27:17, Ez 34:5f). Today's gospel bears many of those vivid features of Mark’s Gospel. It is one of those rare instances where Jesus' stated intent is thwarted by the needs of the crowd. His desire to be alone with the disciples after the excitement and enthusiasm of their first mission could not be realized. What a striking lesson as Jesus puts personal concerns aside because of his pastoral concern for others. Today’s Gospel teaches that the mis-sion of the Church should be based on the Gospel of compassion we seek to live and share.
Most of us are generally willing to help or to be present to others, but very often it is on our terms. We have an agenda which we like to have respected without undue disturbance. We do not like to be taken off-guard. The unforeseen easily becomes an irritant. But shepherding (ministry to others) in the church, which today embraces many people in diverse ministries, calls for a Christ-like openness and responsiveness. How we do things is as important as what we do. This call to ministry is a call by Christ to every believer. When it came to being inconvenienced for the good of others, Jesus gave us all a sterling example of self-sacrifice. This is one of the lessons that his disciples learned ‘on the other side’ and we need to make it a learned experience in our personal lives as well.
Be blessed, Fr. Tom Kunnel C.O.