Readings:
Jeremiah 23:1-6
Psalm 23:1-6
Ephesians 2:13-18
Mark 6: 30-34
Community Word: Our faith in the Good Shepherd gives power to our community.
Theme: We demonstrate faith in the Good Shepherd when we minister with compassion.
Promise: “I will appoint shepherds for them who will shepherd them so that they need no longer fear and tremble; and none shall be missing.” (Jer 23:4)
Reflection:
In Jesus We Are Safe
“…for they were like sheep without a shepherd,” (Mk 6:34). At first glance, the scene depicted in this passage may seem uneventful. But there are two ways of approaching and appreciating this particular gospel passage. One is by drawing on its literal meaning and two, by creating an imaginary scenario of that time and putting ourselves in the shoes of those who were present at the scene. Apart from Jesus, there were at least two groups of people present there at the time: the Apostles and the disciples (v.30) who regularly travelled with Jesus and, of course, the people who came and went in great numbers (v.31) wherever he went. It would appear that Jesus was tired after a series of teachings at different locations around and across Galilee. He returned home to Nazareth where, instead of a warm welcome, he was met with rejection by own kin and town-mates who could not accept that the son of an ordinary carpenter could speak with such authority, or command the evil spirits to depart from those possessed by demons.
This was probably the reason why he invited his disciples to “come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest” (v.31). To use an analogy, you could compare the ministry of Jesus to a political campaign, a ‘campaign blitz’ that aimed to achieve the best possible results over the shortest period of time. In effect, this was what Jesus was doing as he moved from town to town with neither the luxury of rest, or break periods that normally punctuate, or serve to release pressures in the corporate world. The only breaks Jesus ever took that we know of, are those occasions when he went off to a quiet place to pray, the one thing that he never removed from his routine because it must be during these moments of deep prayer and communion with the Father that he found refreshment and received affirmation and counsel on how to proceed with his ministry.
If Jesus, our Lord, was a prayerful person who derived his strength and inspiration from the Father through prayer, we too should develop the habit of connecting with God through prayer as the lifeline for us that spells the difference between salvation and eternal damnation. The fact that Jesus told his Apostles to “come with me by yourselves” could only mean that he was as concerned with the human limitations of his disciples, as with their need to spend some time with him. Israelites are known to value the Sabbath as their time of rest. In fact, apart from the Sabbath, the Jews celebrate several feasts, such as the Feast of the Unleavened Bread, Feast of Harvest, Feast of Tabernacles and the Day of Atonement, and several others, which mandates rest.
Prescribing a rest period for ourselves is necessary because we cannot work without rest and we cannot live an authentic Christian life unless we spend time being in the presence of God. In essence, these quiet moments with God, especially in the solitude of an Adoration Chapel, are what provide us with the strength and motivation for the work ahead. But once Jesus saw the multitude waiting for him as he got off the boat, he forgot all about the rest he wanted to take. Etched on the faces of the crowds was the sense of desperation and hopelessness of a nation that had been waiting for a Messiah.
And Jesus felt pity for them for they were “like sheep without a shepherd, so he began teaching them many things” (v.34). Jesus knew whereof he speaks because this was precisely the reason he was sent to become the incarnate Son of God. He knew that his primary responsibility was to be the shepherd of both Jews and Gentiles, that no one might be lost. As Christ’s under-shepherds, our calling is to evangelize and bring the Good News to others by becoming the ‘good news’ ourselves. And one of the ways by which we can be ‘good news’ to others is by shepherding our brothers and sisters whose hope is in Christ.
There are three things that we are called upon to do as under-shepherds. We are to guide others by “gathering them in our arms and carry them close to our hearts” (Isa 40:11). We are to lead others to graze by “becoming shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, serving as overseers, not because you must but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve” (1 Pet 5:2). And finally, we are to guard the flock especially when they are exposed to danger and harm (1 Sam 17:34-35).
We need to know that sheep without a shepherd cannot find their way in this world filled with deceit and misrepresentations. They are incapable of defending themselves from predators or avoiding the temptations and trials that may beset them. Only in Jesus can the hope of glory we are looking for be found, for he is the Shepherd and Guardian of our souls (1 Pet 2:25). And when the Chief Shepherd appears, we will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away (1 Pet 5:4).
Reflection Questions:
Have you been persistent in ministering to those who have been placed under your pastoral care, as a LSS Shepherd, Class Shepherd, Circle Shepherd, Ministry Coordinator, DIP Shepherd, etc? What were your obstacles/ difficulties?
Reflect on how you might improve your shepherding ministry?
Next Week’s Daily Mass Reading Guide:
July 23, 2012 (Mon) Mi 6:1-4,6-8/ Ps 50:5,6,8,16,17,21-23/ Mt 12:38-42
July 24, 2012 (Tue) Mi 7:14,15,18-20/ Ps 85:2-8/ Mt 12:46-50
July 25, 2012 (Wed) 2Cor 4:7-15/ Ps 126:1-6/ Mt 20:20-28
July 26, 2012 (Thu) Jer: 2:1-3,7,8,12,13/ Ps 36:6-11/ Mt 13:10-17 or Sir 44:1,10-15/ Mt 13:16,17
July 27, 2012 (Fri) Jer 3:14-17/ Jer 31:10-13/ Mt 13:18-23
July 28, 2012 (Sat) Jer 7:1-11/ Ps 84:3-6,8,11/ Mt 13:24-30
“Ignorance of the Bible is ignorance of Christ. Read your Bible daily!”
