Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Also Read: Mass Readings for 21 July 2024 Homily for 21 July 2024 – Sunday
First Reading: Jeremiah 23: 1-6
Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture, says the Lord! Therefore thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, concerning the shepherds who shepherd my people: It is you who have scattered my flock, and have driven them away, and you have not attended to them. So I will attend to you for your evil doings, says the Lord.
We who have responsibilities of families can relate and learn from this teaching, today; as we are called to shepherd them. Similarly, there is a great responsibility placed on leaders in different positions, in offices, workshops, schools, governments, etc. Let us ask the LORD to grant us the courage and discernment to gather the flock that he has entrusted to us. Christ said: “If any of you put a stumbling block before one of these little ones who believe in me, it would be better for you if a great millstone were fastened around your neck and you were drowned in the depth of the sea. (Mt. 18:6) Little ones could be anyone innocent/ ignorant and dependent on us to show them the right way! If we remain mute spectators in the lives of those around us, even when we know better; we are causing them to falter and scatter!
Let us ask the Good Shepherd Lord GOD, to guide our steps as we walk the narrow way. Let us also strive to lead by example not only in words! In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 23: 1-6
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside still waters; he restores my soul. He leads me in right paths for his name’s sake. (1-3)
Amen, Alleluia!
Second Reading: Ephesians 2: 13-18
But now in Christ Jesus, you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he is our peace; in his flesh he has made both into one and has broken down the dividing wall, that is, the hostility between us. (13-14)
Today we are reminded that All of us baptized into Christ, are ONE! We have been united by Jesus Christ’s blood into a single flock.
Let us not wander off but remain committed to our Shepherd Lord. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Alleluia: John 10: 27
My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me.
Alleluia!
Gospel: Mark 6: 30-34
He said to them (his apostles), “Come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest a while.” For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. (31)
As he went ashore, he saw a great crowd; and he had compassion for them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things. (34)
In the previous verses (Mk 6:7-13) Jesus sends out the chosen 12 with specific instructions. In today’s Gospel, they have returned and are reporting back to Jesus all that they had done. Jesus has compassion for his apostles and guides them towards rest. But later as people throng to him, he had compassion on them too and began administering to them immediately.
Our Lord the Good Shepherd has compassion on us as well as the people we must serve. We can rest our hearts in the Lord and take a short break. But the Lord shows us that his work is never-ending and leads by example. The Lord decrees to us our mission and job, but at the same time, He understands that being human we need to be comforted and renewed at regular intervals. Let us learn how we are to work and how we can empathize with those working around us! Praise God, that we have such a great model!
Let us regularly pause to reflect and rejuvenate as the Author says in Eccl 3:1-6, there is a time for everything under the sun. Let us work, play, pause, refresh, resume, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
