Mark 6:26-36: a reflection

26The king was exceedingly sorry, but for the sake of his oaths and of his dinner guests, he didn’t wish to refuse her. 27Immediately the king sent out a soldier of his guard and commanded to bring John’s head; and he went and beheaded him in the prison, 28and brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the young lady; and the young lady gave it to her mother. 29When his disciples heard this, they came and took up his corpse and laid it in a tomb. 30The apostles gathered themselves together to Jesus, and they told him all things, whatever they had done, and whatever they had taught. 31He said to them, “Come away into a deserted place, and rest awhile.” For there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat. 32They went away in the boat to a deserted place by themselves. 33They saw them going, and many recognized him and ran there on foot from all the cities. They arrived before them and came together to him. 34Jesus came out, saw a great multitude, and he had compassion on them because they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things. 35When it was late in the day, his disciples came to him and said, “This place is deserted, and it is late in the day. 36Send them away, that they may go into the surrounding country and villages and buy themselves bread, for they have nothing to eat.”

After the death of John the Baptist, the apostles return from their labors, gathering to Jesus and telling him all they have done and taught. They are weary; there are so many people coming and going that they have no leisure even to eat. And Jesus, seeing their need, says to them: Come away by yourselves to a deserted place, and rest a while. Even in the press of demands and the crowds pressing in, Jesus cares for his disciples' need for rest.

Notice Jesus' concern for his weary disciples. They had been laboring, and the demands were unrelenting, so that they could not even find time to eat. And Jesus did not drive them on, demanding more; he called them aside to rest. He saw their weariness and their need for renewal, and he provided for it, inviting them to withdraw and be refreshed. Jesus does not treat his followers as machines to be worked without pause; he cares for their weariness.

That is a needed word for those of us who labor and grow weary. We can drive ourselves without rest, imagining that faithfulness means never pausing, that to rest is to fail. But Jesus called his weary disciples to come away and rest; he cares for our weariness, and knows we need renewal. Do not despise or neglect rest, as though it were unfaithful; Jesus himself calls his tired followers to come aside and be refreshed. When you are weary and pressed, hear his invitation: come away and rest a while. Care for your own need for rest, as Jesus cared for his disciples', withdrawing to be renewed, so that you can return to your labors refreshed. The Lord who cared for his disciples' weariness cares for yours; accept his invitation to rest.

Lord Jesus, when your apostles returned weary from their labors, with so many coming and going that they had no leisure even to eat, you cared for their need and said, come away by yourselves and rest a while. Speak that word to me when I labor and grow weary. I can drive myself without rest, imagining that faithfulness means never pausing, that to rest is to fail. But you called your weary disciples to come away and rest; you care for my weariness, and know I need renewal. Keep me from despising or neglecting rest, as though it were unfaithful; you yourself call your tired followers to come aside and be refreshed. When I am weary and pressed, help me hear your invitation: come away and rest a while. Help me care for my own need for rest, as you cared for your disciples', withdrawing to be renewed, so that I can return to my labors refreshed. You who cared for your disciples' weariness care for mine; help me accept your invitation to rest.