Key:
What these passages tell us about God
What these passages tell us to do
What these passages tell us to avoid
Commentary
Reading 1 JER 23:1-6
Woe to the shepherds who mislead and scatter the flock of my pasture, says the LORD. Therefore, thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, against the shepherds who shepherd my people: You have scattered my sheep and driven them away. You have not cared for them, but I will take care to punish your evil deeds.
I myself will gather the remnant of my flock from all the lands to which I have driven them and bring them back to their meadow; there they shall increase and multiply. I will appoint shepherds for them who will shepherd them so that they need no longer fear and tremble; and none shall be missing, says the LORD.
Behold, the days are coming, says the LORD, when I will raise up a righteous shoot to David; as king he shall reign and govern wisely, he shall do what is just and right in the land. In his days Judah shall be saved, Israel shall dwell in security. This is the name they give him: "The LORD our justice."
Responsorial Psalm PS 23:1-3, 3-4, 5, 6
R. (1) The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
In verdant pastures he gives me repose; beside restful waters he leads me; he refreshes my soul.
R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
He guides me in right pathsfor his name's sake.
Even though I walk in the dark valley I fear no evil; for you are at my side with your rod and your staff that give me courage.
R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
You spread the table before me in the sight of my foes; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
Only goodness and kindness follow me all the days of my life; and I shall dwell in the house of the LORDfor years to come.
R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
In verdant pastures he gives me repose; beside restful waters he leads me; he refreshes my soul.
R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
He guides me in right pathsfor his name's sake.
Even though I walk in the dark valley I fear no evil; for you are at my side with your rod and your staff that give me courage.
R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
You spread the table before me in the sight of my foes; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
Only goodness and kindness follow me all the days of my life; and I shall dwell in the house of the LORDfor years to come.
R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
Reading 2 EPH 2:13-18
Brothers and sisters: In Christ Jesus you who once were far off have become nearby the blood of Christ.
For he is our peace,he who made both one and broke down the dividing wall of enmity, through his flesh, abolishing the law with its commandments and legal claims, that he might create in himself one new person in place of the two, thus establishing peace, and might reconcile both with God, in one body, through the cross, putting that enmity to deathby it. He came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near, for through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father.
For he is our peace,he who made both one and broke down the dividing wall of enmity, through his flesh, abolishing the law with its commandments and legal claims, that he might create in himself one new person in place of the two, thus establishing peace, and might reconcile both with God, in one body, through the cross, putting that enmity to deathby it. He came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near, for through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father.
Alleluia JN 10:27
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
My sheep hear my voice, says the Lord; I know them, and they follow me.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
My sheep hear my voice, says the Lord; I know them, and they follow me.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel MK 6:30-34
The apostles gathered together with Jesus and reported all they had done and taught. He said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.” People were coming and going in great numbers, and they had no opportunity even to eat. So they went off in the boat by themselves to a deserted place. People saw them leaving and many came to know about it.
They hastened there on foot from all the towns and arrived at the place before them.
When he disembarked and saw the vast crowd, his heart was moved with pity for them, for they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things.
They hastened there on foot from all the towns and arrived at the place before them.
When he disembarked and saw the vast crowd, his heart was moved with pity for them, for they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things.
1. God cares for and delivers His people from evil and trouble. He has genuine, heartfelt, compassion for people. (first reading, gospel).
2. We are still exposed to evil and hardship, but God gets us through them. (first reading, psalm, gospel).
3. God is particularly eager to end division and strife. He makes great efforts to bring us together, and those who try to drive us apart will eventually pay a great price. (first & second readings).
4. How do we respond to those aspects of God?
A. Do not allow yourself to be overwhelmed with fear or other negative emotions prompted by evil and hardship (psalm). See What We Can Learn From Jairus: Dealing With Fear for more on this.
B. Listen for His prompting and obey them. (alleluia verse).
C. Go where He is, seek Him out, like the folks in today’s gospel.
D. Strive to be instruments of the unity and healing God seeks. Do not accept the rhetoric of division and exclusion so prevalent in the Unites States and Europe these days. Reach out to and welcome the refugee, the immigrant. Deliver God’s love to them in concrete ways. Pray for them—and for those spouting divisive rhetoric. Scriptures on these matters are collected in Praying for Leaders: Why, When, and How;Praying for Leaders: That They Be Sensitive to the Weak and Disadvantaged; and Wisdom Principles: Caring For the Weak & Vulnerable.
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