When Jesus was stressed or felt overwhelmed, he would slip away from the crowds to a secluded place to pray and meditate. Sometimes Jesus would have one or several of the disciples with him but often he would be by himself. This was time to think and ponder the world around him, the pressures of ministry so demanding that sometimes he could not even get a chance to eat, about his coming passion and death, and to pray with his Father.
When Jesus heard about the death of John the Baptist, he got in a boat and went to a deserted place to be alone to regain his strength. The boat had to be a small boat that he could use by himself. People saw Jesus leaving in the boat and followed along the shore hoping to be cured or have a family member cured, or to see a miracle and hear Jesus teach.
Frequently the Gospels tell us that Jesus was moved with pity when he saw the crowds that came to be close to him. He was moved with pity because he loved the people as his Father loved him. He would cure their sick and teach them about the Kingdom of God using parables.
We all need the quiet time away from everyone, including our spouses and families to pray and meditate. Reading scripture, a devotional or a spiritual book, and prayer helps us draw closer to God, just as Jesus did.
When we, like the crowds, seek Jesus for healing and strength to deal with everyday burdens and anxieties, we find that Jesus is there waiting for us. He calms our fears and gives us peace to comfort us in our troubled lives. Jesus looks at us with the same pity he felt for the crowds because he loves us so much.
When it seems that the world is crashing in on us and we have no where to turn, we turn to Jesus knowing that his love is always there for us. Regardless of our sin, we can approach Jesus with a sorrowful heart and receive forgiveness.
In today’s Gospel, Jesus took two fish and five loaves, looked to heaven, said the blessing, broke them and fed five thousand men plus women and children. If Jesus could do that, he can feed our heartbroken, hungry souls and draw us closer to God.
In a few moments, our priest will consecrate the bread and wine which will become the body and blood of Christ. Jesus will feed us to nourish our souls and sustain us for the trials and temptations that come every day.
We must approach with a heart that is truly sorry for the times we have failed and sinned. The Psalmist understood this when he wrote:
For in sacrifice you take no delight,
burnt offering from me you would refuse,
my sacrifice, a contrite spirit,
a humbled, contrite heart you will not spurn.
Jesus is here with us at this very moment, waiting for us to approach him with a humbled, contrite heart. Then the miracle of feeding the crowds will happen again. He will feed each of our hearts for the trials and temptations ahead.
