16th Sunday of Ordinary Time [B]


16TH SUNDAY OF ORDINARY TIME [B]


It’s the middle of the night and a baby is crying. Within moments the mother is there, tending to her child. Never mind the fact that the mother was in bed. Never mind the fact that she had put in a long day and was really looking forward to some badly needed rest. This very reasonable desire on her part is being set aside for the sake of a larger priority. She’s being true to her nature. She’s willing to set aside her reasonable desires for the sake of her calling, for the sake of her motherhood. We encounter this phenomenon in “Morning Song,” a poem written by Sylvia Plath. The poem portrays a mother crawling out of bed to comfort her crying child. She does this because it’s all part of the motherhood profile. She’s simply being faithful to her vocation, to her calling. 


Notice the sequence of events in this weekend’s Gospel. Jesus and his disciples have been hard at it; they’re feeling the need for some down-time. However, the crowds are proving to be relentless. Therefore, Jesus sets aside the reasonable desire for rest. He steps forward and begins ministering to their needs (Mark 6:30-34). Essentially, he’s being true to his nature. He’s being true to his calling. He shows compassion for the crowds—and he also does something for us as well. He provides us with the benefit of an example. It’s an example we would do well to appreciate and to follow. 


Consider your own reasonable desires: like Jesus, you have a desire for rest. You work hard, all week long. When the weekend arrives, you would prefer to sleep in. And yet, you hear a voice sounding deep down within you. It’s the call to worship. So what do you do? You (hopefully) set aside your reasonable desire and you proceed to church. Sleeping in on Saturday will have to be sufficient. Additionally, there is the desire for acceptance. You want to be accepted by the wider society. You want to be accepted at your place of employment. Perhaps you should leave your faith at home. It’s a risky proposition, when you talk about your beliefs. Displays can also be risky. Don’t wear a crucifix. Think twice about prayer cards, images, statues, and Rosary beads. 


Still, you can’t help recalling the example of Jesus. The desire for acceptance can be regarded as a reasonable desire. Nevertheless, we know that reasonable desires sometimes have to be set aside. Jesus represents a case in point. Each and every mother also represents a case in point. It’s all about being true to your calling. Finally, we should take into account the desire for enjoyment. You ask yourself whether it’s a reasonable desire? Is the concept of faith compatible with the concept of enjoyment? Fortunately, you have a catechism on the shelf. Paging through, you eventually reach section 1809. It’s a section that focuses upon the cardinal virtue of temperance. It soon becomes clear that a life of faith does not mean turning your back on all forms of enjoyment. You simply need to maintain a healthy spirit of moderation. In other words, the desire for enjoyment can be listed as another one of those reasonable desires. 


The point being made in the Gospel is that there will be times when you have to set aside your reasonable desires. Keep in mind that not every situation will call for you to set aside your reasonable desires. It’s all about having the willingness to do so—when the situation actually calls for such a desire to be set aside. Remember further that you’re not breaking new ground. It’s an approach that was adopted by your mother, on countless occasions. And we see Jesus taking this very same approach as the crowds gather around him in Mark chapter six. 

 

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