Mk 6:30-34
Jer 23:1-6
Eph 2:13-18
Focus: Jesus wanted his disciples to rest after strenuous work.
Function: We, too, need time to relax in body, soul and spirit.
Dear sisters and brothers in the Lord
This past Wednesday I returned from two wonderful weeks of vacation, which I largely spent in Colorado. While we were hiking up Flagstaff Mountain near Boulder, many cyclists passed us riding their mountain bikers, and dashing up the mountain with amazing speed. One older cyclist passed my friends and I as we were pausing for a moment enjoying a spectacular vista. “How far is it to the top,” he asked. “We are about half way up,” my friends who are familiar with the location replied. - “Thanks.” He kept going, with a great effort, breathing heavily. This man certainly did something for his health, but, I thought, even exercise can be overdone! At any rate, during an activity in the mountains, I feel, enjoying the beauty of the landscape, of the flora and the fauna, must be part of it!
This little incident brought to my mind the custom that existed formerly among hikers in the Alps of Europe: They would say to each other when they met hiking upward, “Take your time!” Take your time, so you have enough power for the whole hike! It is long, the ascent as well as the descent!
Nowadays, “higher” and “faster” are goals everywhere and it seems to me that it is good to heed the old Alpine motto, not only in the mountains: “Take your time!” Not every existing record has to be broken. Taking time is different from wasting time.
In our gospel today, Jesus speaks into these experiences: With noticeable pride, the disciples report to their Lord about what they have done and taught in his name. He certainly commended them for this. However, the evangelist skips the praise that is to be expected here. Jesus takes the disciples out of their busyness and invites them, “Come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest awhile.” (Mk 6:31) He could have said instead, I know that you are tired and exhausted. But look at the people who are waiting for us. We have to keep going…” The Evangelist Mark, who usually is quiet brief, adds a detail here: They didn’t even have an opportunity to eat. Even though the people are coming and going in great numbers, Jesus takes the disciples out of the hustle and bustle. He wants them to relax at a deserted place.
Going on a boat ride toward that place didn’t help a whole lot. They were probably able to talk in the boat. But then, smart as the people are, they guess the location of the planned time-out. “They hastened there on foot from all the towns and arrived at the place before them.” We only can hope that they didn’t set out just because they wanted to see miracles or something sensational, but rather in order to hear God’s word from the mouth of Jesus! In his goodness he has compassion for them, even for their mixed motives, and teaches them many things.
In today’s first reading, the prophet Jeremiah criticizes the kings and leaders of his people saying that they were shepherds who mislead and scattered their flock. They did not lead them to good pasture and protect them; rather they scared and scattered them.
Then he relates God’s words: “I will raise up a righteous shoot to David; as king he shall reign and govern wisely. Israel shall dwell in security…” The early church saw this prophecy fulfilled in Jesus, the good and faithful shepherd, He guides those who are “like sheep without a shepherd.”
He gathers them from wherever they are scattered. He increases and multiplies their number. None will be missing.
Dear Sisters and brothers in the Lord, Jesus wanted his disciples to rest after strenuous work. We, too, need time to relax in body, soul and spirit.
Many of us are on vacation these days. Vacation is an opportunity to take our time, to live at a slower pace and with greater awareness, to see the sights, hear the sounds and smell the fragrance of nature, and so to become attentive more fully to what is around us. In this way we can collect new strength for our everyday life.
Vacation is an opportunity to take time for, for things that have been on our mind for a longer while: a conversation, or a phone call, touching base with someone, or taking a step toward reconciliation with a person.
Finally, these summer weeks are an opportunity to give time, to give time to God, to spend more time in prayer and reflection, to hear Holy Scripture with the ear of our heart, and to attune our voice to the Divine shepherd who calls us, feeds us and guides us.
Our time span here on earth is so short compared with eternity that awaits us. Taking our time and living in the now, taking time for what is important and giving time to God: such intentional practices are preparation for eternity. And they remind us of the truth that all time is a gift to us: from the good hands of God.
~Fr. Thomas Leitner, OSB
