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Let us get away alone with Jesus for the maximum rest
Commentary
July 31, 2019
Let us get away alone with Jesus for the maximum rest

We are used to read and hear this kind of ‘get away today’ promos and ads in social media. Many surely make the best use of the discounted vacation travel

The Living Faith

We are used to read and hear this kind of ‘get away today’ promos and ads in social media. Many surely make the best use of the discounted vacation travel packs to go around the nation’s historical, awesome and entertaining resorts. It is all, we think, for our rest and refreshment. But many times, I know in my own personal experience that after those tiresome and hectic travel planning, and executing when we come back home, we cry aloud to our soul-mates or business partners: “Honey, I am so tired; please excuse me, I cannot attend my duties today!” This is how most of us misuse the times of leisure, rest and holidays. Jesus too invited his tired disciples to take some rest, saying: “Come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.” (Mk. 6: 31) And by this he taught all his disciples how to make the proper use of resting time. First he demonstrated it by his life and then also through his instructions.

Our Scriptures and Tradition proven the eternal fact of God the Creator is the Supreme Shepherd to the humanity and therefore we are proud to sing with David: “The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I lack.” (Ps. 23: 1-4) We too are convinced by God’s Spirit that God the Generous Shepherd had handed over his Shepherdship to his beloved Son Jesus as Prophet Jeremiah had already prophesied: “See, days are coming—oracle of the LORD—when I will raise up a righteous branch for David; as king he shall reign and govern wisely, he shall do what is just and right in the land. In his days Judah shall be saved, Israel shall dwell in security. This is the name to be given him: The LORD our justice.” (Jer. 23: 5-6)

Jesus never argued against it and he willingly accepted that role to shepherd humans in God’s name. He imitated the Supreme Shepherd and showed mercy and compassion to the needy and hungry people. As the Gospels spell out, “his heart was always moved with pity for the humans, for they were like sheep without a shepherd.” (Mk. 6: 30-34) He discovered they were full of problems, issues and desolate experiences of life. He did within his limited and restricted physical power and environmental situation all that he could. He was a round-the-clock missionary of preaching, teaching and performing healing deeds. Since he was fully aware that, “The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak” (Matt. 26: 41), he withdrew from the hurly-burly of the world, spent alone so many hours frequently either on hills, or deserted places.

Besides, when he chose a team of humans for cooperating with him in his Gospel endeavors, his main goal was to act exactly like him as compassionate shepherds for the needy and the downtrodden people. He sent them to do the same missionary works in and around Palestine. (Mk. 6: 7-13) When they came back full of joy and enumerated to him all the experiences with excitement, Jesus noticed they were tired and weary because of their tedious missionary journey. At this juncture, the compassionate Master wanted them to go with him to a deserted area in order to be refreshed for their next move of shepherding.

Jesus truly wanted them not just enjoying leisure time but being with him alone. This is for getting back more spiritual energy they lacked. Hence with Jesus they went off in the boat to a deserted place. However, as Mark narrates, 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. Jesus saw the same crowd again from which he purposely wanted he and his disciples to be freed. So the Master and his delegated leaders joined hands together began once again their ministries.

Here is the lesson Jesus offers us in conducting our human life. He exhorts us to be ‘balanced’ in working and in resting. We can sum up that lesson in one single Biblical term: “Justice.” That is the identity-name Prophet Jeremiah gave to the Christ in his prophecy. The term justice literally means “balance”; ‘to stand in balance.’ All our mental, physical and spiritual problems come out of the imbalanced handling of our own lives and roles. We should know we are divided within ourselves; human life is a very risky business to deal with and especially when that business is full of responsibilities such as leading others as shepherds. While we place more attention or emphasis on one side of us, the other side reaps its own toll.

Our human spirit can be transformed into God’s Kingdom only when we accept and appropriate its rare blend of Justice and Peace; and Works and Rest. Jesus, who was identified as ‘the Justice’ by his Father, was also the Peace to himself and to the world. (Ref. Eph. 2: 13-18) Let us then obey the Lord of Justice and go and stay with him alone and enjoy our total restful peace.

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