Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 107
Reading 1
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
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 paths
for 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 LORD
for years to come.
R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
Reading 2
Brothers and sisters:
In Christ Jesus you who once were far off
have become near by 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 death by 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
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
My sheep hear my voice, says the Lord;
I know them, and they follow me.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel
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.
MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS,
Being a Christian has some expected duties and responsibilities. Once we have embraced the faith, we then must live the faith. In other words, what we have learned and experienced must bear fruit through acts of charity, right conduct, and right frame of mind. Our actions, thoughts, and spirituality have to be balanced and healthy. There are three parts to every human being: the physical, the mental, and the spiritual. These three must work together towards a common goal, which should be an open, loving relationship with God. It is then through that relationship that our lives can be experienced the way that God intended it to be in the first place.
Jesus Christ is the True Shepherd. It is through Him that we are guided to the Father. As we journey towards this common goal, we will find ourselves being led by other people. At other times, we will be the ones doing the guiding. Thus, we are at once sheep and shepherds depending on the circumstance. This is where our proper Christian Conduct comes into play. If we do not take what we say or do seriously, applying it to our own lives, we are at risk of leading other people astray. Even more detrimental is that we could easily hurt other people and hurt ourselves. Keeping our focus on Jesus Christ enables us to be led in the right direction and to lead others correctly.
When we recognize Jesus Christ as the True Shepherd and construct our lives around this, we can be open to experiences like none other. Having a reliance on God rather than our own self-will leads to a calming effect. There is no need to have any fear or anxiety regarding things to come. The words of the prophet Isaiah ring true:
“Can a mother forget her infant, be without tenderness for the child of her womb? Even should she forget, I will never forget you.”
God is constantly contemplating us. God is constantly loving us. Should we not do the same to Him? The key to any healthy relationship is open communication. Our relationship with God is no different. We need to be open to Him as much as He is open to us.
The Apostle Paul points to the closeness we can achieve with God. Jesus made that possible through the Blood of the Cross. Before His death and resurrection, God was approached through the Law and our relationship was defined by adherence to the Law. If we followed the Law, then we were in right relationship. When we broke the Law, there was punishment and consequences. Because of this, the Law was followed out of obligation and fear. Through Jesus Christ, the Law is now followed out of Love. It is through Jesus that the power of God’s love is realized.
One of the most recognizable Psalms is Psalm 23 with its beautiful incantation:
“The Lord is my shepherd, there is nothing I shall want.”
The assurances of God’s presence in our lives, through death and beyond, is made clear. Not only is He our guide, but He is also our protector and comforter. There are times in our lives when we might feel overwhelmed by what we are facing. Just as Jesus Christ took the burden of all our sins onto the Cross, so too He wants to take all those things that are troubling us. These are considered the burdens of the flesh. He wants these burdens to be His burdens. He wants to leave us with nothing, but a sense of peace and unconditional love.
It is amazing how even the smallest of problems can fill us with fear, anxiety, and resentment. So quickly we can throw our faith aside and instead embrace all these negative faults and feelings. This can be avoided by acting out our faith and focusing on Jesus instead. Keeping our thoughts and actions focused on Jesus will render the positive results necessary, for there is nothing negative when it comes to Him. With Jesus, where there is crisis, there is always a solution. Psalm 46 tells us,
“God is our refuge and strength,
an ever-present help in distress.
Thus we do not fear, though the earth be
shaken
and mountain quake to the depths of
the sea,
Though its waters rage and foam
and mountains totter at its surging.”
Living by these words and allowing these words to be prayers that can ultimately comfort us and give us faith, will bring about that peace that Paul speaks about in his letter today. It will also enable us to feel God’s presence, thus strengthening our relationship with Him and our reliance on Him. Being good shepherds and good sheep will give us vision, purpose, and joy in our lives always.
Deacon Tom
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