Soul Satisfaction in Mission!

Saturday, February 3, 2024

1 Kgs 3:4-13; Mk 6:30-34

In today’s Gospel, Jesus teaches us that soul satisfaction is the desired objective in mission. 

In the Gospel, Jesus wants to leave to a place where the disciples can rest and relax.

However, the people who come in ‘great numbers’ and who hasten from all the towns ‘spoil’ Jesus’ intention. 

Though Jesus desires some rest for his disciples and himself, he finds the needs of the people more compelling. It is expressed in the verse: ‘They were like sheep without a shepherd.’

Jesus feels compelled to minister to the people and begins to teach them ‘many things.’ Even in his tiredness, Jesus does not take the people for granted and takes up a full-fledged mission. Jesus’ gesture shows that God’s mission is a serious business, and no mediocrity is ever encouraged. 

It is not that Jesus does not mind the ‘work-life’ balance. Rather, Jesus aims at something more. It is soul-satisfaction. 

Sometimes what we neglect bothers us for a long time. Jesus does not allow that to happen in his life. 

Jesus is a master at relaxing through his work because relaxing is only a different kind of activity for him. 

The soul-satisfying mission gives Jesus relief from weariness and rejuvenates him. 

Jesus teaches us the magic that no one can be tired of doing God’s work as long as the ‘center’ of our mission is the People of God!

Fr. Dhinakaran Savariyar