February 04, 2017

Gospel: Mk 6:30-34
The apostles returned and reported to Jesus all they had done and taught. Then he said to them, “Let us go off by ourselves into a remote place and have some rest.“ For there were so many people coming and going that the apostles had no time even to eat. And they went away in the boat to a secluded area by themselves.
But people saw them leaving, and many could guess where they were going. So, from all the towns, they hurried there on foot, arriving ahead of them.
As Jesus went ashore, he saw a large crowd, and he had compassion on them, for they were like sheep without a shepherd. And he began to teach them many things.

REFLECTION:
“The Compassionate Shepherd“
Everybody looks forward to the weekend! After a busy week a time of rest is most welcome! Jesus and his disciples had also been busy for a number of days. Moreover, Jesus had just learned of the death of his cousin, John the Baptist. He needed time to grieve, too. So he invited his disciples to go to a place where they could have time for themselves.
But the rest Jesus and his disciples had been planning didn’t turn out the way they wished. The people figured where they were going and so they rushed ahead to where they were going. The people were really so eager to hear Jesus more! They just could not have enough of Jesus! Jesus saw their hunger for the Word. He had compassion on the crowd.
A weekend is a good time of rest for us, too. It is good to go to the mall and do some shopping and relax. But might the weekend be a time to have more time with the Lord, too? A recollection could be a very good activity on a weekend. Anyone interested in a “Weekend Family Recollection?“