Hungry for the Good News

My dear friends in Christ,

After traveling for a while, especially on a lengthy sojourn, people usually want to do two things: rest, and recount the stories of the adventure. In today’s Gospel reading, we see something similar, although on a more profound scale. The Twelve had gone out in pairs to spread the Good News to the nation of Israel, perhaps contesting with hostile communities, perhaps encountering hearts opened to the Word, but likely a mixture of both. Their journeys would have been filled with stories of conversations, rebukes, and perhaps even the kind of tales most travelers tell after venturing out into unknown lands. Whey they return, Jesus gathers them together to hear about their journeys. As they arrive in a secluded place, the crowds start coming and they are hungry — hungry for the Good News, hungry to learn of their fellowship with the Lord, and as we’ll see immediately after this passage, just plain hungry. Instead of pushing them away and asking for rest for His disciples, Jesus takes pity on the large crowd and begins to teach. The disciples return to Jesus and “report all they had done and taught.” When we return to Jesus at the end of our travels, will we not do the same?

The Knights of Columbus will be conducting a Food Drive next weekend, July 24/25 in Bogdan Hall. They are in need of medium sized boxes. Please bring items ready to be packed and given to the needy. Please don’t place open packages, expired cans or spoiled fruit in the collection bin. Thank you.

May God bless you all,

Father John