Two bits of the gospel story are put together for today's lectionary lesson from Mark. First (6:30-34), the disciples have been out in the neighborhood, teaching the words that Jesus had taught them and doing the good deeds that they had seen him do. You remember that, after his rejection in Nazareth, he commissioned his close followers to be his messengers to the world. Now they have returned to Jesus with reports of their work. I suppose we might even say, in today's images, that the sales force is back at general headquarters. The calls have been made. The results are being tallied. But, unlike some of today's images, Jesus is deeply aware of the emotional drain upon his friends. It must have been evident to Jesus that the disciples had traveled far, had been diligent in their teaching,…