Dear Brothers and Sisters, Fiat!
Today’s Gospel passage (Mk 6:30-34) tells us that after their first mission, the Apostles returned to Jesus and told him “all that they had done and taught” (v. 30). After the experience of the mission, which was undoubtedly thrilling but also arduous, they needed to rest. And understanding this well, Jesus wished to give them some relief and said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a lonely place, and rest for a while” (v. 31). But Jesus’ intention could not be fulfilled this time because the crowd, guessing the location of the lonely place where he would take the disciples by boat, ran there and got there ahead of them.
The same can happen today. At times we are not able to complete our projects because something urgent and unexpected occurs, disrupting our plans and [this] requires flexibility and being available to the needs of others.
In these situations, we are called to imitate what Jesus did: “As he landed 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” (v. 34). With this brief sentence, the Evangelist offers us a flash of singular intensity, taking a snapshot of the eyes of the divine Master and his teaching. Let us observe the three verbs in this frame: to see, to have compassion, to teach. We can call them the Shepherd’s verbs. The gaze of Jesus is not a neutral one — or worse, a cold and detached one because Jesus always looks with the eyes of the heart. And his heart is so tender and filled with compassion, that he is able to understand even the most hidden needs of people. Moreover, his compassion does not simply suggest an emotional response toward people in situations of distress. It is much more. It is God’s attitude and predisposition toward mankind and its history. Jesus appears as the fulfillment of God’s concern and care for his people
Because Jesus was moved when he saw all those people in need of guidance and help, we would now expect him to perform some miracles. Instead, he began teaching them many things. This is the first bread that the Messiah offers to the starving and lost crowd; the bread of the Word. We all need the Word of truth to guide and illuminate our way. Without the truth which is Christ himself, it is not possible to find the right direction in life. When we distance ourselves from Jesus and his love, we become lost and life is transformed into disappointment and dissatisfaction. With Jesus by our side, we can proceed with confidence and overcome all trials, advancing in love toward God and neighbour. Jesus gave himself for others, thus becoming an example of love and service for each of us.
In the passage of July 16, 1930, Jesus tells Luisa that His Love toward creatures is so great, that It does not cease to love them for one single instant. If He ceased to love them for one instant alone, the whole machine of the universe and all creatures would resolve into nothing, because the existence of all things had the first act of life from His Love - full, whole, complete, interminable and incessant; and so that His Love might have all Its fullness, Jesus released from Himself, as act of life of the whole universe and of each act of creature, the Divine Will. So, the Divine Will is life of everything, God’s Love is continuous nourishment of all Creation.
Life without nourishment cannot live; nourishment, if it does not find the life, has no one to whom to give Itself, nor anyone to nourish. So, the whole substance of all Creation is the Divine Will, as life, and God’s Love, as nourishment; all other things are superficial, and as ornament. Therefore, Heaven and earth are full of God’s Love and of the Divine Will; there is not one point in which, like mighty wind, They do not pour Themselves toward the creatures; and this, always – always, without ever ceasing.
It is always in the act of pouring upon creatures; so much so, that if the creature thinks, the Divine Will makes Itself life of her intelligence; and God’s Love, by nourishing it, unfolds it. If she looks, the Divine Will makes Itself life of her eye; and God’s Love nourishes the light of her seeing. If she speaks, if she palpitates, if she operates, if she walks, God’s Will makes Itself life of the voice; His Love, nourishment of the word; the Divine Will makes Itself life of the heart; God’s Love, nourishment of the heartbeat. In sum, there is not one thing that the creature might do in which the Divine Will does not run as life, and God’s Love as nourishment.