Sheep without a shepherd

30 The apostles returned to Jesus and told him all that they had done and taught. 31 And he said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.” For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. 32 And they went away in the boat to a desolate place by themselves. 33 Now many saw them going and recognized them, and they ran there on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them. 34 When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. And he began to teach them many things. 35 And when it grew late, his disciples came to him and said, “This is a desolate place, and the hour is now late. 36 Send them away to go into the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat.” 37 But he answered them, “You give them something to eat.” And they said to him, “Shall we go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread and give it to them to eat?” 38 And he said to them, “How many loaves do you have? Go and see.” And when they had found out, they said, “Five, and two fish.” 39 Then he commanded them all to sit down in groups on the green grass. 40 So they sat down in groups, by hundreds and by fifties. 41 And taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and said a blessing and broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples to set before the people. And he divided the two fish among them all. 42 And they all ate and were satisfied. 43 And they took up twelve baskets full of broken pieces and of the fish. 44 And those who ate the loaves were five thousand men.
Mark 6:30-44

What goes through your mind when you see the beggar on the street corner. He is unkempt, dirty, disheveled, and holding a ragged cardboard sign that says “Anything Helps…. God Bless.” You wonder what brought them to the point where they are willing to beg. Is it drugs, alcohol, mental illness, bad luck, or are they just plain lazy? Sometimes we give them a few bucks and sometimes we look the other way to avert their eyes.

After Jesus had taken his disciples on a prayer retreat, they pulled their boat ashore to a throng of people waiting for him. He saw them as sheep without a shepherd – morally unkempt beggars, dirty and disheveled. He sees them (and us), and he has compassion. We may avert our eyes from the beggar, but Jesus won’t. He does more than fumble through his wallet for a few dollars of spare cash the way we might when we see the beggar. He looks deep into the eyes of his sheep and he feeds them. He feeds them with his words because he cares for their souls. Then he gets his disciples in on the action. “You feed them.”

We are all beggars and helpless sheep in need of a shepherd. Hear his voice and feed on his words. He is a good shepherd who will make you lie down in green pastures and walk beside still waters. Let Jesus care for your soul.