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July 14, 2021Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time -- July 18, 2021 Readings: Jeremiah 23:1-6; Psalm 23:1-3, 3-4, 5, 6; Ephesians 2:13-18; Mark 6:30-34
Our scripture passages this week present the frequent images of the shepherd and the sheep. It is easy for us to see ourselves as the sheep and Christ as the shepherd. Likewise, it is more comfortable for us to think of our bishops, priests and other Church figures when we read the admonition contained in the First Reading from the prophet Jeremiah: “Woe to the shepherds who mislead and scatter the flock of my pasture, says the Lord.” Have no doubt that Jesus is the true shepherd and we are to look to our priests and bishops as our earthly shepherds. However, Paul, in his letter to the Ephesians, reminds us that Jesus is the one who leads us all to a place of everlasting peace. We are also taught that our call is to be imitators of Christ and to share in His ministry as priest, prophet and king. The Second Vatican Council in the document Lumen Gentium further reminds us that we in the laity are co-responsible with the hierarchy to bring the Good News to the world. We too are called to act as Jesus did in the Gospel passage when He looked around and saw the vast crowd in need of a shepherd. We are also called to be shepherds to those we encounter in our daily lives. As members of the Body of Christ, the Church, we too share the responsibility with our Church leaders to look around to find the lost and forsaken and find ways to invite them to join us in the peaceful sheepfold where Jesus will look out for us and provide for our deepest needs, which are His love and mercy. Let us pray for the grace, courage and the wisdom to assume our responsibility as shepherds to help unite others to Christ.
We should also take note that while Jesus seeks to draws us all together, the evil one seeks to sow seeds of division, even in the Church. Clearly, the forces of division are currently all around us. We are constantly being encouraged to act out of that which separates us from others, yet as true followers of Christ we are called to come together not only in worship but in seeking the good of others regardless of their economic, social, ethnic or political background. Our shepherds are human beings and sinners, as are we. We should never let their imperfections (nor our own) separate us from the Lord. We pray that our spiritual leaders shepherd us always in the way of the Lord and that we in turn seek the wisdom and grace needed to effectively watch over, guide and protect those whom the Lord has placed in our lives.
For further reflection on prayer and our personal relationship with Jesus, see the Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraphs 2558-2267; and on the role of our bishops as shepherds of the flock, paragraphs 888-896; and on our role as the lay faithful, paragraphs 897-913.- How well have I united my life to Christ? What might I do to give more of my life over to Him? Do I make enough time for prayer and meditation? What do I discover when I spend time in prayer, adoration or meditation?
- How united am I with the teachings of the Catholic Church? What can I do to discover the truth, beauty and goodness of Church teaching? What can I do to strengthen my understanding of how my Catholic faith provides me with graces to love others as Christ has loved me?
- When it comes to my family, how am I a ‘uniter’? How am I a ‘divider’? In my workplace? In my church? In my community?
