Daily Readings - Sun Jul 22 2018

¹"Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture!" declares the LORD.²Therefore thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, concerning the shepherds who care for my people: "You have scattered my flock and have driven them away, and you have not attended to them. Behold, I will attend to you for your evil deeds, declares the LORD.³Then I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all the countries where I have driven them, and I will bring them back to their fold, and they shall be fruitful and multiply.⁴I will set shepherds over them who will care for them, and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall any be missing, declares the LORD.⁵"Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land.⁶In his days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely. And this is the name by which he will be called: 'The LORD is our righteousness.'

Ephesians

Chapter 2

¹³But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.¹⁴For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility¹⁵by abolishing the law of commandments and ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace,¹⁶and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility.¹⁷And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near.¹⁸For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father.

Mark

Chapter 6

³⁰The apostles returned to Jesus and told him all that they had done and taught.³¹And he said to them, "Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while." For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat.³²And they went away in the boat to a desolate place by themselves.³³Now many saw them going and recognized them, and they ran there on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them.³⁴When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion 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 God’s lament over the shepherds who have failed to care for His people. These shepherds, entrusted with the well-being of the flock, have instead scattered and neglected them. Yet, in the midst of this failure, God promises to gather the remnant of His flock and appoint new shepherds who will lead with wisdom and justice. This passage is set against the backdrop of Israel’s history, where the monarchy had often failed to live up to its calling. Jeremiah’s prophecy looks forward to a messianic figure, a “righteous branch” from David, who will bring restoration and peace. In the second reading from Ephesians, we see how this promise of restoration is fulfilled in Christ. Paul writes that Christ has broken down the walls of division between Jews and Gentiles, reconciling them into one body through His sacrifice on the cross. This unity is not just a abstract idea but a lived reality made possible by the power of the Holy Spirit. The early Christian community, like the Israelites before them, had experienced division and separation, but in Christ, they are brought near and given access to the Father. This passage emphasizes that the peace of Christ is not just for individuals but for the entire community, creating a new way of living together in harmony. The Gospel from Mark brings these themes together in the person of Jesus. After a busy period of ministry, Jesus invites His disciples to rest in a deserted place. Yet, when they arrive, they find a crowd of people who are like “sheep without a shepherd.” Moved by compassion, Jesus takes on the role of the shepherd, teaching and caring for them. This passage highlights Jesus’ role as the Good Shepherd, who gathers the scattered, teaches the ignorant, and brings peace to the troubled. It also reminds us that even in our busiest moments, we are called to respond to the needs of others with compassion and care. These readings challenge us to reflect on our own role as shepherds in the world. Like the disciples, we are called to rest in God’s presence, but we are also called to go out and care for those around us. In a world that often feels fragmented and divided, we are reminded that Christ is our peace and our unity. As we strive to live out this unity, we must also remember the compassion and wisdom of the Good Shepherd, who laid down His life for His flock. Let us ask for the grace to be shepherds after God’s own heart, leading others with love, justice, and peace.