Trinity 7 (19 July)

This week's discussion is courtesy of Richard Donovan's commentary on Mark 6 at Lectionary.org.

The Gospel lesson this Sunday is composed of two passages from Mark 6 linked by their similar content: 

• The story of Jesus and the apostles going away to a deserted place for solitude together, but being interrupted by the crowds with their great needs (Mark 6:30–34)
• And the story of the crowds coming to Jesus in Gennesaret for healing (Mark 6:53–56)
  

Between these two passages, Mark tells the stories of the feeding of the five thousand (Mark 6: 35–44) and Jesus walking on the water (Mark 6:45–52). This is an example of a story (or stories) within a story,  a favourite genre for Mark. In this case, Mark ties together stories of Jesus' teaching and healing ministry (Mark 6: 30–34, 53–56) with a story of his providing bread – a story with eucharistic overtones (Mark 6:35–44).

These passages speak to us, because we have felt like the disciples must have felt – hurried and harried. The needs were great; the crowds were large; and the disciples could not even find time to eat. If busyness was a problem for them, it seems even worse now. Our problem is a world in which experts have engineered out all the breathing room. Our labour-saving appliances fail to save us from labouring,  our communications technology fails to bring us together,  and our leisure is filled with chores.

Just as well Jesus invites us to find our rest in him:

“Come to me all you who labour and are heavy laden and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28)

Till next time,
Andrew

Readings

1st            2 Samuel 7:1–14a
2nd           Ephesians 2:11–22
Psalm        89:21–38
Gospel      Mark 6:30–34, 53–56

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