30The apostles returned to Jesus, and told him all that they had done and taught. 31And he said to them, "Come away by yourselves to a lonely place, and rest a while." For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. 32And they went away in the boat to a lonely place by themselves. 33Now many saw them going, and knew them, and they ran there on foot from all the towns, and got there ahead of them. 34As he went ashore he saw a great throng, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things.
I love this passage. Jesus emphasizes the need for rest. We all need time with God to prepare us for the next encounter. But Jesus also shows the importance of prioritizing the needs of others. Once again, when faced with the tension of choosing between two goods, it takes wisdom, sagacity and faith to make the better of the two choices. I believe the virtue required is called Prudence.
ReplyDeleteI think you've captured the essence of this passage beautifully. Jesus does emphasize the importance of rest, yet He also responds with compassion when faced with the needs of the crowd. This tension—between taking care of oneself and serving others—is one that many of us wrestle with daily.
DeleteYour insight about prudence is particularly fitting. Prudence is often misunderstood as mere caution, but in its true sense, it is the virtue of making wise and discerning choices. It helps us balance self-care with self-giving, knowing when to step back and when to step forward.
Jesus models this perfectly. He invites the disciples to rest, but when He sees the crowd “like sheep without a shepherd,” He responds in love. He doesn’t abandon rest as unimportant, but in that moment, He recognizes that love calls Him to action.
Perhaps prudence is not just about choosing between two goods but about knowing when one good should take precedence over another. And that requires both faith and discernment.