Gospel: Mark 6:30-34

 

The Gospel today is in contrast with that of yesterday, the banquet of death, wanted by Herod during which John the Baptist was murdered; on the other side, the banquet of life promoted by Jesus with the hungry people. The Gospel today presents only the introduction to the multiplication of the loaves.

 

The Gospel show how Jesus formed His disciples. He was concerned with the content of the preaching and with rest for the disciples. He invited them to go to a lonely place so as to be able to rest and review what they had done.

 

As He stepped ashore, He saw a large crowd, and He took pity on them because they were like sheep without a shepherd and He began to teach them at some length. He forgets about His own rest. Jesus wanted to rest together with His disciples, but the desire to respond to the needs of the people impels Him to leave rest aside. Something similar happens when He meets the Samaritan woman. The disciples went to get some food. When they returned, they said to Jesus, “Master, eat something!”. The desire to respond to the needs of the Samaritan leads Him to forget His hunger. 

 

For fifteen times Mark says that Jesus taught. The content which Jesus gave appeared in His words, in His gestures and never was separated from the person who communicates it. It was always a witness of what He Himself lived, an expression of His love!