READING: Mark 6 verses 30 – 34 and 53 – 56

The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught. Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place. But many who saw them leaving recognized them and ran on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them. When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things.

When they had crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret and anchored there were like sheep. As soon as they got out of the boat, people recognized Jesus. They ran throughout that whole region and carried the sick on mats to wherever they heard he was. And wherever he went—into villages, towns or countryside—they placed the sick in the marketplaces. They begged him to let them touch even the edge of his cloak, and all who touched it were healed.

SERMON

In the reading we have just read we hear of two things. Two things that we need as Christians. So let us look at the first one:

Truck drivers often drive long distances to deliver supplies to others. These dedicated drivers bring groceries to our local markets. They move and deliver lots of things such has cars, books, computers, flowers, fish, fruits, vegetable building materials etc.

Long-haul truck drivers are hard working men and women who drive from one side of our country to the other and not forgetting travelling across Europe, delivering many of the things that we enjoy each day. To help them be safe on the road and function at their best, there are rules which they must follow.

One of the most important rules is that drivers need to rest after they have driven a certain number of hours. They must take time off and rest a required amount of time before they can safely drive again.

We learn about the importance of rest in the Bible. Jesus and his disciples had been very busy teaching great crowds of people about God’s love. Jesus said to his disciples, “Come apart into a deserted place, and rest awhile” (6:31).

This is good advice for all of us – we can become very busy in this ever increasing hustle and bustle of life.

While we are busy enjoying all the wonderful opportunities we have, it is important to remember that we also need time to be alone and to rest. Rest is important for our health and allows us to be more helpful to others.

So let us now look at the second thing we can discovery in the reading. Firstly, let us remind ourselves of the reading:

Then the apostles gathered to Jesus and told Him all things, both what they had done and what they had taught.

And He said to them, “Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.” For there were many coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat.

So they departed to a deserted place in the boat by themselves. But the multitudes saw them departing, and many knew Him and ran there on foot from all the cities. They arrived before them and came together to Him.

And Jesus, when He came out, saw a great multitude and was moved with compassion for them, because they were like sheep not having a shepherd. So He began to teach them many things.

The plan was to have some time alone, time to refresh, but they were interrupted!

People where so hungry for knowledge, so thirsty for deliverance that Jesus and the disciples had rowed 4 miles across the lake and the crowd ran 10 miles and the crowd beat them to the other side.

It was then that Jesus felt compassion for the people who had run the distance to follow him. It was another example of Jesus being moved with compassion.

When was the last time you were moved with compassion?

What about the person who was rude to you?

What about the person who cut you up in traffic?

What about the person who did wrong to you at work?

What about the person who is mean to you?

What about the person who stabs you in the back?

So why was Jesus moved with compassion? Because they were like sheep without a Shepherd! Let us remind ourselves of what is said in John 10:11-13.

11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.

12 The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it.

13 The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.

“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.
But a hireling, he who is not the shepherd, one who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf catches the sheep and scatters them. The hireling flees because he is a hireling and does not care about the sheep.

Do you care about the sheep? The people who God asks us to watch over?

Do you care where they will spend eternity?

I have rarely had people come up to me and say they were concerned about somebody’s soul!

I have heard a lot of people being nosy into people’s business, but I don’t think they are concerned for that person’s spiritual well-being!

No compassion, no love, just judgment, is that like Jesus?

Steven Covey an author of books about being successful, describes in his book “The 7 Habits Of Highly Effective People.” A personal experience whilst he travelled on the New York subway.

The passengers were sitting quietly in the subway car, when a man entered with children who were extremely noisy and active. To Covey’s surprise, the man (who was obviously the father) sat down and closed his eyes, ignoring the loud and rambunctious children.

He sat as though he were oblivious to them! The subway car was ringing with chaotic noise. The children’s behavior was way out of line, and everyone was getting agitated – except the father.

Finally, Covey leaned over and spoke to the man about his children. The father opened his eyes and seemed to finally grasp the situation.

“Oh, you’re right. I guess I should do something about it. We just came from the hospital where their mother died about an hour ago. I don’t know what to think, and I guess they don’t know how to handle it either.”

Before you proceed with your day, your week, I ask you to take a few minutes right now to ask God to give you His love for others.

Ask Him to help you see others as He sees them—the lost souls He gave His Son to save.

So what have we discovered in today’s Gospel reading?

We have discovered the need to have rest in our journey as Christians, to be fresh to spread the word of our Lord and saviour and also the need to have compassion for others as we undertake the calling which we have heard and asked to undertake.

Amen.

PRAYERS

Blessed are you, Lord our God, for you have given us a world full of beauty and wonder and have created us in your image. Yet we have abused the world and marred your image. Lord, in your goodness, heal your world and restore us. Blessed are you, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Lord in your mercy hear us

We give thanks that you have called us to work for you. Through your Spirit give us the wisdom and love in all our dealings. We ask your blessing upon the Church where it is working among the oppressed and rejected peoples of our world and communities. Give your Church courage to stand against evil and work for the good of all.

Lord in your mercy hear us

We give thanks for the balance and harmony of creation. We pray for all who are working to stop pollution of land, sea and air; all who work to protect the species and harvests of our world. We pray for all who strive for justice and for the social welfare of all people.

Lord in your mercy hear us

We give thanks for our loved ones and our homes and ask you to bless and protect us. We remember all who are forced to live in slums or shantytowns and those who live on the streets of our towns and cities. We pray for all who suffer in silence due to the feelings of fear.

Lord in your mercy hear us

We pray for all who have suffered through the wickedness or evil of others. We remember victims of crime, violence and abuse. We pray for all whose memories are scarred. We ask your blessing on households that have suffered loss in whatever way. We pray for all who are ill and in need of others in whatever way.

Lord in your mercy hear us

We give thanks that you are a loving and forgiving God; in you we can be healed, restored and renewed. We ask you to bless our loved ones departed, that they may know and rejoice in your love. We commit ourselves and all creation to your saving power and love.

Merciful Father, accept these prayers for the sake of your Son, our saviour Jesus Christ. Amen

And so we bind our prayers together in the words that Jesus taught his disciples.
Our Father, who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name,
Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done; on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory,
For ever and ever.
Amen

Revd Kevin.
Associate Priest at St.Wilfrid and St.Thomas