Our Peace

Jul. 21: Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

In the modern world, it's hard to find a moment's peace. But it was like that in the ancient world, too. We always find ways to "fill" our time with business and unimportant things. Setting aside time to pray every day, and maybe even go on a retreat every year, is important to our mental and spiritual health.

Reading 1

Jer 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."

Israel had been led by bad shepherds—evil kings and false prophets. So he promised to send a Messiah to lead them—Jesus Christ.

Jesus is still with us, in the Word and in the Eucharist. We also still have bad leaders, both secular and religious. Whenever we're unsure, we must compare these Earthly shepherds with the Good Shepherd. Of course, they'll never fully measure up (none of us can), but their closeness to Jesus can point us in the right direction.

Responsorial Psalm

Ps 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.

This is a psalm that, despite its fame (or maybe because of it), can be hard to identify with.

But this life is not the only life. We can't suppose that our current worries are going to carry on forever. Instead, God's promise of peace and repose will be fulfilled eventually.

Reading 2

Eph 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.

Here, Paul spells out exactly how Jesus offers us peace. It's not by removing all of our problems and worries; those we still have to deal with.

He simplified the Mosaic law into two simple commands: love God, and love your neighbor. We don't have to worry about particulars if those are at the front of our mind.

And as for eternity, Jesus has taken care of that Himself, through his death and resurrection.

Alleluia

Jn 10:27

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
My sheep hear my voice, says the Lord;
I know them, and they follow me.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

We have a responsibility to know Jesus' voice when we hear it, and not allow ourselves to be led astray.

Gospel

Mk 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.

Jesus and the Apostles needed a break, after they returned from the mission He sent them on last week. They decided to go on a little retreat.

But the people, Jesus' flock, still need them. So Jesus forgoes His quiet time to shepherd His flock. It's obviously not His greatest sacrifice, but events like this remind us that not every spiritual battle involved a great sacrifice. Small opportunities to deny ourselves, in order to love both God and neighbor, present themselves every day.

We should follow our shepherd's example.