“Come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while” (Mk 6:30-34)
Jesus' answer seems as if off topic. The apostles talk about their mission, the fruitful preaching of the word of God, exorcisms, healings ... but St. Mark in the following sentences does not refer to Jesus' reaction to the activity of the apostles, nor does he talk about the next lecture of Jesus or about the correction of the evangelistic activity, although it should be assumed that Jesus enjoyed the activity of the disciples. The Lord, however, asks the twelve to go to a deserted place and rest a little. They were tired. He saw that they were involved, many people came to them, and they did not have time to eat their meals in peace (cf. Mark 6: 30-32).
Jesus' behavior can be better understood in the light of the words of the prophet Jeremiah (cf. Jer 23: 1-6). Only God himself will be a good shepherd of his people. He will be like a well-reigning king, very prudent in action, and his children will live safely, will not be distracted, abandoned and unattended. At the same time, through Jeremiah, God severely chastises the shepherds who broke up and scattered the people, they had no care and compassion for people.
What happens when, in obedience to Jesus, we go to a "desert place" (Greek for ἔρημος - erēmos), that is, to a consciously chosen hermitage? Before we take care of others again, so as not to distract people with our behavior and words, but to unite people with God and with ourselves, we need to "come together" in ourselves. This is perhaps the first benefit of silence; the opportunity to hear ourselves, our thoughts and desires - good and incompatible with love. It is about discovering our breakdown and the need for unity of desires, thoughts and actions in the Name of God. In silence, it is much easier to hear people again and hear not yet answered questions. When we consciously give up many intense sounds around us, finally we can say unspoken sentences, say thanks, apologize, pray longer. When the disciples of Jesus calm their heart, they can at the same time more and more accept silence as the place and time of the meeting of the Most Important Person – God, to take silence personally and renew the heart through the Presence of God.
Pope Benedict XVI, a few years ago, speaking to professors and students at church universities in Rome, said: “… man must learn to listen with the heart to God who speaks. Thought always needs to be purified to attain this dimension in which God speaks his creative and redeeming Word, the Word of silence, as said St. Ignatius of Antioch. Only when it is born in the silence of contemplation can our words have value and be useful, do not increase the flood of words in world discussions that seek confirmation in the opinion of the general public ... the basis is love for the word of God, and even before that, I think, for that silence from which the word begins in the dialogue of the love of the Father and the Son in the Holy Spirit”.
From the silence understood and experienced in this way, one should go out to others. The apostles, who were sent for a short rest, saw the power of the Personal Word that came from the Father. From the eternal silence and everlasting love: from the Father and the Spirit, Jesus brought us peace, that is, the fullness of the gifts that we had lost. He gave everyone the opportunity to be closer to God anew, he brings peace to everyone - to those who are far away and to those who are closer to God. "He is our peace" (cf. Eph 2: 13-18).
Go to your hermitage and stay there, rest. Resting, renewing yourself in compassion for yourself and others - this is a call not only for holidays.
Jesus knows well the toil of apostolic work, which is associated with fatigue and often rejection, and therefore wants his disciples to rest in a desert place. There is time for apostleship, but also time for relaxation with others, and time for solitude and prayer.
The disciples rest next to Jesus. Rest is a return to the sources, it is an opportunity to be with Jesus, enjoy His closeness, listen to Him, experience His acceptance, friendship, love, and participate in His plans. It is next to Jesus that the disciple recovers his strength, learns to be able to serve others again.
Until Tomorrow
fr. george