Monday in the Fifth Week of Ordinary Time, February 6, 2023

Mark 6:53-56

After making the crossing to the other side of the sea, Jesus and his disciples came to land at Gennesaret and tied up there. As they were leaving the boat, people immediately recognized him. They scurried about the surrounding country and began to bring in the sick on mats to wherever they heard he was. Whatever villages or towns or countryside he entered, they laid the sick in the marketplaces and begged him that they might touch only the tassel on his cloak; and as many as touched it were healed.

Today’s Gospel Reading describes events following the Lord’s feeding of the five thousand and then his walking on water after he subsequently sent the Apostles away.

Gennesaret was a plain of four or five miles in length located between the towns of Capernaum and Magdala along the western coast of the Sea of Galilee.  It is described by ancient authors as a beautiful place, lush with vegetation.  A small town of that name existed in that area with that name.  The Lord’s coming to this spot might have been as a way to give his disciples rest, but also showing them how scarce is rest for the true disciple.  “People immediately recognized him.”  Agricultural workers perhaps, or others who came to enjoy the natural beauty of the site.  It is not surprising that the Lord was recognized: he had lived and worked in this area for many months by this time.  

“They scurried about the surrounding country and began to bring in the sick on mats to wherever they heard he was.”  This verse speaks of the immense suffering in Galilee at that time: so much sickness, even after the Lord had leaked so many people.  The verse also infers that though Jesus and the Apostles landed at Gennesaret, they did not remain there long.  This is confirmed by the following verse: “Whatever villages or towns or countryside he entered, they laid the sick in the marketplaces and begged him that they might touch only the tassel on his cloak.”  This show of faith by the people contrasts markedly with the opposition and hostility of the Pharisees and the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem.  Mark is careful in highlighting this for the Gentiles who might have wondered why they should follow the teachings of one who was rejected by his own people.  Mark shows that the people loved him and sought him out for help; the leaders hated him out of jealousy.  “As many as touched it were healed.”  This reminds us of how simple a matter it is for us to hop in a car and drive to a church to go to confession at a regular, advertised hour.  These people of long ago had to rely on days old reports about the Lord’s whereabouts, and perhaps have to trek for many miles following his trail to catch up with him.  But their perseverance, fired by their faith, resulted in total and immediate healing.