When Jesus heard of the death of John the Baptist, he withdrew in a boat to a deserted place by himself. The crowds heard of this and followed him on foot from their towns. When he disembarked and saw the vast crowd,
his heart was moved with pity for them, and he cured their sick.
We can only imagine Jesus' shock upon hearing that his cousin and colleague John had been arrested, imprisoned and finally murdered by Herod Antipas. We should not suppose he knew it would happen all along, or that he was so above human feeling as to regard the news with cool indifference. If Jesus "withdrew in a boat to a deserted place by himself," we can suppose he took it pretty hard. Just as you or I would had we heard such news.
First, he had lost a close friend and kinsman; secondly they would come for him next. When the powerful destroy the weak with impunity, what hope can any politically aware person have? Jesus felt the ground shifting beneath his feet. Everything that was solid and reliable was called into question. The foreseeable road leading toward a familiar horizon became much shorter, as the hopeful light which once illuminated that horizon faded to gloom. Every distant tree, standing against the sky, became a cross.
Jesus withdrew to a deserted place by himself. He might have had no doubt as to what he must do but he needed time. Time to collect himself, time to rest in prayer, time to enjoy the privileges of food, drink, breath and life before they would be cut off forever. We should never suppose that the theological virtue of hope is the same thing as "knowing how this will all come out." If Jesus could predict his resurrection, as the scriptures say, they do not say he could anticipate his final agony or his desperate plea to a silent God. He only knew his fate would be the same as John's. Only a madman could ignore that ominous news and Jesus was not mad.
Saint Matthew says Jesus "withdrew... to a deserted place by himself;" but "the crowds heard of this and followed him." If he expected to be alone the Spirit of God had other plans and Jesus could only obey, "...his heart was moved with pity for them, and he cured their sick."
His spirit still moves among us and our hearts are moved with compassion even when we feel frightened of the future. We have little choice but to act as Jesus did: care for the sick and the dying, educate the young and the illiterate; comfort the widow and the orphan; welcome the homeless and the refugee.
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I love to write. This blog helps me to meditate on the Word of God, and I hope to make some contribution to our contemplations of God's Mighty Works.
Ordinarily, I write these reflections two or three weeks in advance of their publication. I do not intend to comment on current events.
I understand many people prefer gender-neutral references to "God." I don't disagree with them but find that language impersonal, unappealing and tasteless. When I refer to "God" I think of the One whom Jesus called "Abba" and "Father", and I would not attempt to improve on Jesus' language.
You're welcome to add a thought or raise a question.