Daily Readings - Sun Jul 21 2024

¹"Woe to the shepherds who scatter and tear apart the sheep of my pasture, says the Lord²Because of this, thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, to the shepherds who pasture my people: You have scattered my flock, and you have driven them away, and you have not visited them. Behold, I will visit upon you because of your evil pursuits, says the Lord³And I will gather together the remnant of my flock from the entire earth, from the places to which I had cast them out. And I will return them to their own fields. And they will increase and be multiplied⁴And I will raise up shepherds over them, and they will pasture them. They will no longer dread, and they will no longer fear. And no one among their number will be seeking more, says the Lord⁵Behold, the days are approaching, says the Lord, when I will raise up to David a righteous branch. And a king will reign, and he will be wise. And he will exercise judgment and justice upon the earth⁶In those days, Judah will be saved, and Israel will live in confidence. And this is the name that they will call him: ‘The Lord, our Just One.

Ephesians

Chapter 2

¹³But now, in Christ Jesus, you, who were in times past far away, have been brought near by the blood of Christ¹⁴For he is our peace. He made the two into one, by dissolving the intermediate wall of separation, of opposition, by his flesh¹⁵emptying the law of commandments by decree, so that he might join these two, in himself, into one new man, making peac¹⁶and reconciling both to God, in one body, through the cross, destroying this opposition in himself¹⁷And upon arriving, he evangelized peace to you who were far away, and peace to those who were near¹⁸For by him, we both have access, in the one Spirit, to the Father

Mark

Chapter 6

³⁰And the Apostles, returning to Jesus, reported to him everything that they had done and taught³¹And he said to them, "Go out alone, into a deserted place, and rest for a little while." For there were so many who were coming and going, that they did not even have time to eat³²And climbing into a boat, they went away to a deserted place alone³³And they saw them going away, and many knew about it. And together they ran by foot from all the cities, and they arrived before them³⁴And Jesus, going out, saw a great multitude. And he took pity on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd, and he began to teach them many things

Sermon

The readings today invite us to reflect on the themes of leadership, unity, and compassion. In the first reading from Jeremiah, we hear a stern warning to the shepherds of Israel who have failed to care for God’s people. Jeremiah condemns their neglect and promises that God will gather the scattered flock and appoint new shepherds who will lead with justice and integrity. This prophecy points to the coming of a righteous Messiah, a king who will bring peace and restore Israel. The reading reminds us that true leadership is not about power but about serving and caring for those entrusted to our care. In the second reading from Ephesians, we see how Christ has fulfilled this promise of unity and peace. Through his sacrifice, Christ has broken down the walls of division between Jews and Gentiles, reconciling them into one body. This passage emphasizes that we are all part of the same family in Christ, and our shared life in him gives us access to the Father. The cross of Christ is the ultimate expression of God’s love, destroying enmity and creating peace. This reading calls us to live out this unity in our daily lives, recognizing that we are all one in Christ. The Gospel from Mark brings these themes together in the person of Jesus. After the Apostles return from their mission, Jesus invites them to rest in a deserted place, showing his concern for their well-being. When he sees the crowds, he takes pity on them, describing them as “sheep without a shepherd.” This image echoes Jeremiah’s prophecy, as Jesus reveals himself as the true shepherd who teaches and cares for the people. Mark’s account reminds us that Jesus’ compassion knows no bounds, and he calls us to follow his example by being present to others and sharing his love. These readings challenge us to reflect on how we lead and care for one another in our own lives. Are we shepherds who guide with kindness and integrity, or do we neglect those around us? They also remind us of the unity we share in Christ and the peace he has won for us. Let us strive to live as instruments of God’s love, bringing reconciliation and compassion to a world in need. And when we feel overwhelmed, let us remember that Jesus invites us to rest in him, trusting in his promise to restore and renew us.