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Reading 1: Jeremiah 23:1-6
Responsorial: Psalm 23:1-6
Reading 2: Ephesians 2:13-18
Gospel: Mark 6:30-34
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/071821.cfm
https://www.deaconrudysnotes.org/
Welcome back for another edition of deacon rudy’s notes! I’m Deacon Rudy Villarreal, and together we’re going to break open the Word!
Our readings are packed with so much meaning. This is where a good Bible study comes in – to get behind the text and learn the connections between different readings. But when we hear the Gospel proclaimed and then listen to a homily, our task is to stand in front of the text in the here and now.
Why?
Because Jesus is speaking to us today – right here, right now. Yes, the history and the connections are fascinating and even spiritually fruitful. But the question remains, “What am I supposed to do right now? What do I do with this information?”
In the spirit of lectio divina which Pope Benedict says should always end with actio or action, we should consider how the Word of God invites us to make our lives a gift of charity or love for others.
So, with that understanding, let’s look at our Gospel today.
Remember, last week Jesus sent the disciples out two-by-two. In today’s Gospel, the disciples are returning. They’re telling Jesus all about their journeys. Jesus says to them, “Come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while,” (Mark 6:31).
Now, this is a super wildly important point. Our lives – at least in the West and most especially in the United States – are always very busy. Our lives are so filled with things to do, places to go, and people to see. We seldom make time to rest in the presence of Jesus.
Hopefully, the pandemic helped us learn that we cannot go back to life as usual. Some things in our lives must change.
Why?
Look at it this way. The greatest weapons that the Enemy has in his possession are fear and doubt. Now, the Enemy will seldom say to you or me, “skip church today, or you don’t have time to pray today.” That’s a sort of direct assault and that’s really not the Enemy’s m.o..
What the Enemy will say is, “Isn’t this a perfect opportunity to put in a few extra hours? It’s nearly time for a raise or the boss is thinking about retention bonuses.” Or, “you know, if your child joins that extra club, then your child will be in a better position for a scholarship.” And there are many variations of those themes, I assure you!
Now, these ideas that Enemy whispers don’t sound threatening, so what’s the harm? The harm is that we find ourselves stuck on a sort of hamster wheel, running as fast as we can, but not getting anywhere.
We end up feeling so exhausted that we have no time for anyone – not even for ourselves! And that’s the tragedy in our lives that contrasts with today’s Gospel. You see, Jesus isn’t inviting you and me to work 60+ hours per week only to ignore our health and wellbeing, or ignore our relationships with our family and friends.
No, in today’s Gospel, Jesus looks out to the crowd following them and experiences pity because they are like sheep without a shepherd (Mark 6:34). You see, the purpose of our work is to build up the Kingdom of God. That means ministering to those who are following us like our spouses or our children or our friends. God did not create you and me for Wall Street. God created you and me for the Kingdom.
How will you respond to God’s invitation to minister to the sheep? That leads us to homework! Nourished by the Word and the Eucharist, I invite you to reflect on the following two questions.
First, how often do you rest in the presence of Jesus every day?
Second, how do you spend time with the people around you – your family and friends?
I think doing our homework will help us become the disciples Christ Jesus calls us to be! Do you got it? Do you get it? Good! Now go make disciples! May Almighty God bless you Father, Son and Holy Spirit. +Amen!
Thank you for joining me today. Our theme music was composed by Silent Partner. You can find all sorts of helpful information on the website at www.deaconrudysnotes.org. I’m Deacon Rudy Villarreal. Join me again next weekend on deacon rudy’s notes as we break open the Word. Peace!
Image: Artist unknown. Busy city street. JPG
Bibliography/Suggested Readings:
1. Healy, Mary. The Gospel of Mark. Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Academic, 2008. Kindle.
2. Montague, George T. SM. Mark: A Popular Commentary on the Earliest Gospel. Steubenville, Ohio: Franciscan University Press, 1992.
3. Williams, Peter S. Ephesians. Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Academic, 2009. Kindle.
Catechism References http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc.htm:
1. Trinitarian communion and the Church: 238, 747
2. The Good Shepherd: 754
3. The Church as the sacrament of unity: 775
4. The Chruch as the one People of God: 781
5. The New Law of freedom: 1972
6. Rest: 2184
7. Christ the source of peace: 2302-5
8. Witness and workers for peace and justice: 2437-2442
Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/071821.cfm
Lectionary: 107
Reading 1
Jeremiah 23:1-6
Woe to the shepherds
who mislead and scatter the flock of my pasture,
says the LORD.
Therefore, thus says the LORD, the God of Israel,
against the shepherds who shepherd my people:
You have scattered my sheep and driven them away.
You have not cared for them,
but I will take care to punish your evil deeds.
I myself will gather the remnant of my flock
from all the lands to which I have driven them
and bring them back to their meadow;
there they shall increase and multiply.
I will appoint shepherds for them who will shepherd them
so that they need no longer fear and tremble;
and none shall be missing, says the LORD.
Behold, the days are coming, says the LORD,
when I will raise up a righteous shoot to David;
as king he shall reign and govern wisely,
he shall do what is just and right in the land.
In his days Judah shall be saved,
Israel shall dwell in security.
This is the name they give him:
“The LORD our justice.”Responsorial
Psalm 23:1-3, 3-4, 5, 6
R. (1) The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
In verdant pastures he gives me repose;
beside restful waters he leads me;
he refreshes my soul.
R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
He guides me in right paths
for his name’s sake.
Even though I walk in the dark valley
I fear no evil; for you are at my side
with your rod and your staff
that give me courage.
R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
You spread the table before me
in the sight of my foes;
you anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
Only goodness and kindness follow me
all the days of my life;
and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD
for years to come.
R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
Reading 2
Ephesians 2:13-18
Brothers and sisters:
In Christ Jesus you who once were far off
have become near by the blood of Christ.
For he is our peace, he who made both one
and broke down the dividing wall of enmity, through his flesh,
abolishing the law with its commandments and legal claims,
that he might create in himself one new person in place of the two,
thus establishing peace,
and might reconcile both with God,
in one body, through the cross,
putting that enmity to death by it.
He came and preached peace to you who were far off
and peace to those who were near,
for through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father.
Alleluia
John 10:27
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
My sheep hear my voice, says the Lord;
I know them, and they follow me.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel
Mark 6:30-34
The apostles gathered together with Jesus
and reported all they had done and taught.
He said to them,
“Come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.”
People were coming and going in great numbers,
and they had no opportunity even to eat.
So they went off in the boat by themselves to a deserted place.
People saw them leaving and many came to know about it.
They hastened there on foot from all the towns
and arrived at the place before them.
When he disembarked and saw the vast crowd,
his heart was moved with pity for them,
for they were like sheep without a shepherd;
and he began to teach them many things.