"(Jesus) began to teach them many things."

Jeremiah 23:1-6
Psalm 23
Ephesians 2:13-18
Mark 6:30-34

"(Jesus) began to teach them many things."

After the apostles worked hard in their preaching and mission, the Lord invited them to go to a deserted place to rest from their labors. The mission Jesus sent them too was fruitful, for many believed in their words and deeds. The success of their mission work made crowds continue to stay close to them - making it difficult for them to even rest and eat. So Jesus led them to a boat where they could go far. This did not deter the people who were eager to follow them. The people arrived at the place even before Jesus and the Twelve embarked from their boat. When the Lord Jesus saw the crowd, He was moved with compassion, for the people were "like sheep without a shepherd".

Since the time of Jesus, the missionary spirit and works of the Church had left us with many "landmarks". These basic "landmarks" are what we find in our Creed, the moral teachings of the Church, and the traditional prayers (both individual and Sacramental) that have guided us since baptism. As long as we believe, follow and continuously pray within these landmarks, we will be kept within the sheepfold of Christ, our Good Shepherd. But if we remove these landmarks from our way of life and follow other philosophies, trends or ways of thinking (especially anti-Catholic ones), we may end up losing our way in the world.

Our present times appears to be neglectful of these landmarks and the many faithful clergy who continue to teach them. However, humility and vigilance will help us follow the right path in these times. Humility predisposes our minds and our hearts to listen and to obey. Vigilance, on the other hand, keeps our minds and our hearts watchful against anything that can lead our souls astray. Combined with prayer and faithful reception of the sacraments, especially the Eucharist, we will surely be guided by the Holy Spirit in the right path. And one other important truth to remember is to keep within the thinking and the practice of the Church (as St. Ignatius of Loyola and St. Thomas of Aquinas counsel in their writings). All these will help us through the confusion, uncertainties and anxieties of the times.