Sunday 21st of July
“They were like sheep without a shepherd.”
Mark 6:30-34
Today’s passage is a continuation of last Sunday’s readings, where the apostles, having rejoined Jesus, shared with him all they had done and taught. Their journey, the people they met, and the miracles they witnessed were all part of their encounter with Jesus. After their mission journeys, Jesus invites the disciples to come away with him to rest and share.
Today, Jesus also invites us to come away and rest with him, to take time to withdraw from our usual activities so that we can, in Jesus’s presence, reflect on what we have lived over the past week, who we have encountered, and how God has worked through us. To be effective missionary disciples, we must slow down and be alone with Jesus.
Yet, one of the most challenging aspects of being a missionary disciple is living a life in service of others. This requires being available and detached from self- interest to attend to the needs of others. It’s not about neglecting our own needs, but about prioritizing the needs of others, as Jesus often did. How well do we manage this balance between doing and being? This is a conversation we could have with Jesus.
Lord, help us to have hearts like yours, which are kind and compassionate toward the needs of others.