Daily Readings - Sun Jul 22 2018
Jeremiah
1Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! saith the LORD.2Therefore thus saith the LORD God of Israel against the pastors that feed my people; Ye have scattered my flock, and driven them away, and have not visited them: behold, I will visit upon you the evil of your doings, saith the LORD.3And I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all countries whither I have driven them, and will bring them again to their folds; and they shall be fruitful and increase.4And I will set up shepherds over them which shall feed them: and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall they be lacking, saith the LORD.5Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth.6In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.
Ephesians
13But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.14For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;15Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;16And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:17And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.18For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.
Mark
30And the apostles gathered themselves together unto Jesus, and told him all things, both what they had done, and what they had taught.31And he said unto them, Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while: for there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat.32And they departed into a desert place by ship privately.33And the people saw them departing, and many knew him, and ran afoot thither out of all cities, and outwent them, and came together unto him.34And Jesus, when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having 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.