Monday of the Fifth Week in Ordinary Time

"The Needs of Others"

It would be very easy to fault the people in today’s Gospel reading (Mark 6: 53-56) for thinking of Jesus totally in terms of what He could do for them or their distressed family and friends. A busy pastor, counselor, teacher or parent can easily feel “eaten up” by the demands of others. At some time or other the besieged person must wish: if only some consolation would visit me rather than being always at the mercy and beckon call of those who are in such tough straits. “Compassion Fatigue” sets in and burnout is the result.

But what can we expect from a sick person, someone in trouble, someone very worried or depressed? It’s pretty difficult for most of us to forget ourselves when we are hurting so much. The injured person, the suffering soul easily feels that the only event going on this day in the universe is MY suffering, MY problem, MY darkness. To transcend this and think of others is certainly ideal and worthy of praise, and we shouldn’t neglect the wisdom which tells us to forget our own troubles and focus our attention on concern for others. Still, the one who seems to be giving all the time understandably longs to be on the receiving end occasionally. All of us stand in awe at the generosity and constant giving of a Mother Teresa and of many of our own mothers.

We Christians believe that the power to give generously and compassionately comes from Christ living in us and our living in Christ. He is the vine and we are the branches; we can do nothing without Him (John 15:5). Sometimes our weariness and self-pity may stem from the fact that we trust too much in ourselves and too little in the Lord. Sound familiar???