Wednesday of the First Week in Ordinary Time

Bands of blue

Rising very early before dawn, 

he left and went off to a deserted place, where he prayed.
Simon and those who were with him pursued him
and on finding him said, “Everyone is looking for you.”

When I was in training as a hospital chaplain the supervisor often chided his class, “There is only one Messiah.” Eager as we were to visit and fix patients, we needed to be reminded of our limits.

Today’s gospel reminds us of the humility of Jesus. After a stunningly successful day as preacher and healer, he leaves town without so much as goodbye. Saint Mark says his disciples “pursued” him. Literally, they “tracked him down” like a wild animal. Although they meant well, they had a lot to learn about Jesus.

This brief episode is impressive for many reasons. First, we find Jesus in solitary prayer. Who can imagine what the prayer of the Son of God must have been like? It was certainly very good; that is satisfying and delightful and pleasant. And intense!

Perhaps, on that occasion he still felt the thrill of yesterday’s excitement and the satisfaction of work well done. However, in solitude and silence, away from the maddening crowd, he could feel the Holy Spirit pushing him to move on to other villages and towns. There was not much time.

It has been said that the cross appears in every story of Saint Mark’s gospel. Perhaps we see it clearly in this story as Jesus hurries to the next town. He cannot linger in this village to enjoy the perquisites of success.

The story reminds us of how often we are distracted by the expectations of others – “Everyone is looking for you.” There are times when the eager Christian will do everyone a favor except herself. She has no time for herself. She needs to be needed and everybody’s every need must be satisfied.

And sometimes what they need is for her or him, to get out of town! “Just stop trying to make me well!”

As the old radio announcer used to say, “What evil lurks in the heart of man? The shadow knows.” Sometimes our generosity has so many strings attached it serves no good at all. It is only a barely disguised narcissism. 

Jesus didn’t try to save everyone by giving them everything they wanted or needed. He only did what he could and that, to many people, was not nearly enough. I'm sure some were plenty disgusted with him that morning. 

Just as, to love one’s children, a parent must first love the spouse, so Jesus loved his God first. And thereby saved us.