Today we continue our Sunday sequence from Mark (6:30-34).  The apostles return to Jesus after being sent to evangelize, heal, and exorcise, telling Him of their exploits.  Hoping to give them a well-deserved rest, Jesus tries to steal them away to a deserted place.  But the people got wind of their plans and beat them there.  Jesus, pitying them in their ignorance, begins to teach them.  We should see this as Jesus’ attitude toward the world today.  It is tempting for us to think, in our righteous anger, that God’s judgment against the growing evil in our country and many countries is coming soon if not overdue.  But remember John the Evangelist’s words: “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him” (Jn 3:17).  Instead of being despondent or angry over the state of things in our day, let us work to change them.  We must start at home with prayer and reform of our lives and the uplifting of our family there.  Let us be models of true Christianity.  Love God and love others by seeing others as God sees them.  Let us not be quick to condemn, but to pity them for not knowing the Lord (whether in fact or in the biblical sense).  Jesus showed His pity by teaching them.  So we must also be instructors through example and word.  When we “repent, and believe in the gospel” (Mk 1:15) others will surely want what we have based on the fruits of that sincerely held and followed decision.  Let God work through our humble obedience to bring the world back to Him.