Spiritual Renewal in the Desert

Saturday, February 7th Readings Reflection: Saturday of the Fourth Week in Ordinary Time

In today’s Gospel, the Twelve Apostles are returning to Jesus after He had sent them out to teach in His name. He gave special supernatural gifts, such as power over demons, to the Twelve Apostles who were the first priests and bishops of the Catholic Church. After traveling, teaching, healing, and casting out demons, the Apostles were tired and in need of physical and spiritual rest. Responding to their need, Jesus invited the Apostles to “[c]ome apart [with Him] into a desert place, and rest a little” (Mk 6:31 DRB).

A medieval commentator pointed out that in this Gospel passage, the Apostles “return to the fountain-head whence the streams flow” (Catena Aurea). In returning to Jesus, the Apostles acknowledged their total dependence on Him for their mission. They did not go out on their own accord but rather were sent by Christ as His representatives. When they had fulfilled this first piece of their mission, they returned to the Source of their mission to renew their physical and spiritual strength.

During this early time in their ministry, the Apostles had not yet received the fullness of truth through the Holy Ghost. They also lacked understanding of Christ’s true mission, which was the redemption of mankind through His Passion, Death, and Resurrection. The Apostles possessed an immense blessing in that they were able to know Jesus the Man and follow Him, but their understanding of Him was far from complete during Christ’s public ministry. During this time, Jesus instructed His Apostles so that they could be His representatives and carry out His Great Commission of spreading the Gospel to all nations after He ascended into Heaven. However, in order to do this, the Apostles needed to be spiritually strong themselves. Recognizing this, Jesus called them to go to the desert with Him to be renewed in their faith, hope, and charity.

While we often think of deserts as being places of desolation and spiritual dryness, I have heard an alternate perspective that sees in the desert a place to escape the distractions, temptations, and weariness of life, a place to find Christ and be renewed. In today’s Gospel, Jesus and the Apostle went into a boat to go to the desert. Throughout the Gospels, the evangelists frequently use the image of a boat to symbolize the Catholic Church. Thus we can learn from this Gospel passage that we can find Jesus in the desert through the Catholic Church that He established. Through the sacraments, we can encounter Christ through external signs. Through the Eucharist, we see, adore, and receive Him, physically present yet hidden under the appearances of mere bread and wine.

Like the Apostles, we are sent on our own missions, our own vocations by which to bring our soul and the souls of others to Christ. Our mission too will lose its very purpose if we do not frequently return to its divine Source and renew ourselves at the fountains of grace that are the sacraments. May we frequently avail ourselves of the sacraments of the Church so that we may better fulfill God’s will and ultimately attain eternal salvation for ourselves and those entrusted to us.

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