Daily Readings - Sun Jul 21 2024

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 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.