The return of the Twelve Apostles

In last Sunday’s Gospel reading, our Lord Jesus Christ sent his trusted Twelve Apostles on their mission to teach and preach, to cure the sick, cast out demons and bring the good news to the people. In today’s Gospel, the Twelve Apostles have returned to their master. You can read it in Mark 6:30-34.

“The Apostles gathered together with Jesus and reported all they had done and taught. 31 He said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.” People were coming and going in great numbers, and they had no opportunity even to eat. 32 So they went off in the boat by themselves to a deserted place. 33 People saw them leaving and many came to know about it. They hastened there on foot from all the towns and many came at the place before them. 34 When he disembarked and saw the vast crowd, his heart was moved with pity for them, for they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things.”

It is essential for all Christians, especially Catholics to read the Bible, rather than allow dust to cover this Holy Book in our homes, so you will see that today’s Gospel reading is connected to last Sunday’s reading when the Apostles were sent by Jesus on their mission and that in today’s Gospel we read that they have returned and reported what they have been doing to their Master. This gospel is also set up in preparation for next Sunday’s gospel reading, which is the feeding of the five thousand.

But while his Apostles were on their mission, King Herod had John the Baptist beheaded, which was one of the distressing reports that our Lord Jesus got when his Apostles came back. Aside from being a cousin of Jesus, John the Baptist heralded the coming of the Messiah and even told his own disciples to follow Jesus and many obeyed John and followed Jesus.

But now that Jesus was doing the work that God had sent for him, it was time for John the Baptist to receive his reward in heaven; after all, his mission to make straight the paths of the Lord was over and done. But we should never forget what John the Baptist said after he had baptized the Lord, he told his followers, “Behold the Lamb of God who take away the sins of the world, I’m not worthy to untie his sandals.” Then in one of his final meetings with the Lord, John said, “He should increase, while I decrease.”

These words of St. John the Baptist is full of meaning, that when we finally have a personal relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ, he should increase in us, while we decrease; after all, we are nothing without Jesus Christ! Alas, too many of us think and believe that when we have attained some higher level of spirituality or religiosity, it is God who is now at our beck and call, when it should be the other way around.

Unfortunately, many moneyed people mistakenly believe that if they give a huge donation to build a church, they are going to be saved or that is their ticket to eternal life. There are those who build statues in their properties and make them a pilgrimage sites after spending huge amounts to show to the people that they support the activities of the Church, as if they can “bribe” God with their offerings from their wealth. But how can God save them when they have neither love nor forgiveness in their hearts?

So, back to the Apostles who haven’t even eaten yet. Jesus tells them to “Come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.” In ancient times, the Jews always believed that God speaks to his people in the desert or a deserted place. God spoke to Moses in a deserted mountain and in the plains. Hence you can say that Jesus gave his Apostles a chance to commune with God in a deserted place. But in a way, Jesus too needed to go to a deserted place where no one can disturb him so he could mourn for the death of John the Baptist and thank God for sending him ahead of the Messiah.

But as today’s gospel story goes, the vast crowds learned where Jesus and his Apostles were headed for and move ahead of them in Galilee. Thus we read, “When he disembarked and saw the vast crowd, his heart was moved with pity for them, for they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things.”

Mark now has alluded to our Lord Jesus the title of the Good Shepherd. Actually the Pharisees, the Scribes and the Temple priests were suppose to be the shepherds of their flock. But Jesus has condemned them for they have ministered only to themselves. This passage should be taken as a warning to our bishops and priests that they should never lose sight of their mission in life, which is to save souls and minister to their flock. Too often, perhaps because they are only human, many priests succumb to this materialistic world and succumb to temptation. This is why just like the Apostles, they too need to go to a deserted place to pray and commune with God.

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