Sunday, July 19, 2015

Moved by Ignorance

Something Father Dan said during the homily today really struck a cord with me. Today's reading from Mark chapter 6 verses 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 a while.” 
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 he 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.

Often  times in the Gospels Jesus is moved by pity, compassion, or the faith of the people around him. In many of those cases he performs miracles of healing. When you think about it, the time and energy for Jesus to heal some one is generally seen as something that happens instantaneously and with minimal effort of Jesus' part. 

But in today's Gospel, Jesus and the disciples were tired, hungry, and just needed to rest in quiet a bit. But when he saw the crowds he was moved with pity for them. Not because they were in need of physical healing, but because they were lost. He was moved by their ignorance and desire to learn, to be shepherded. This is not some instant fix, but something that required Jesus to spend his time and energy (of which he was running low, remember? He hadn't eaten, and was physically tired BEFORE getting into the boat!). But this was important, he saw the people's need to learn, to be led, and he took the time to meet their need. 

Father Dan this morning quoted St. Jose Maria Escriva on this- "Jesus is moved by hunger and sorrow, but what moves him most is ignorance."  

Lord, help me to recognize my ignorance and lead me to You and Your understanding. Thank you for being willing to spend time with me, to teach me an lead me to greater understanding.