Mark 6:30-34, 53-56

30 The apostles gathered around Jesus and told him all that they had done and taught. 31 He said to them, “Come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest a while.” For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. 32 And they went away in the boat to a deserted place by themselves. 33 Now many saw them going and recognized them, and they hurried there on foot from all the towns and arrived ahead of them. 34 As he went ashore, he saw a great crowd; and he had compassion for them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things.

53 When they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret and moored the boat. 54 When they got out of the boat, people at once recognized him, 55 and rushed about that whole region and began to bring the sick on mats to wherever they heard he was. 56 And wherever he went, into villages or cities or farms, they laid the sick in the marketplaces, and begged him that they might touch even the fringe of his cloak; and all who touched it were healed.

Jesus' concerns are filled with love and compassion

Wherever we follow Jesus and pay good attention to His way of teaching, preaching, dealing with others and healing, we are invited to reflect about how to be His disciples today. This Gospel passage is full of characteristics of Jesus' goals and ways of dealing with His disciples and the crowd.

Here are some points to help us follow Jesus as our Way, our Truth and our Life---

Jesus' awareness of His mission of love and mercy.
He is preparing His disciples to become ambassadors of gracious, loving care for all humans.
In the third year of His friendship with them, He sends them to learn how to practice and proclaim the Good News.
He shows us how to value the fruits of their efforts and how to care for their rest.
He knows where to send them to a quiet place.
Their rest prepares them for further missions and for better performance.
Jesus is always encouraging His disciples to give more for free as they have received for free.
Jesus has compassion on the crowd that follows Him even if they disturb His recreation.
He is the shepherd caring for their wellbeing, both the spiritual and the physical equally.

Do I need any kind of healing for myself or for the people I pray for?

Do I believe that He can grant that healing?

What do I learn from Jesus today in the light of this Gospel?

How can I improve my ways of life and make them closer to Jesus' ways?

How do I live my time of rest, do I give some time for a dialogue with Jesus?

Do my relations with others reflect Jesus' love and compassion?

Go to a quiet place and have a rest with Jesus.