16th Sunday of Ordinary Time
This weekend we celebrate the 16th Sunday in Ordinary Time and we listen to the story of the good shepherd. The first reading from the prophet Jeremiah talks about the shepherds that do not look after the flock and what will happen them for their misdeeds. The response to the psalm is the Lords my Shepherd there is nothing I shall want. That tells us that we shall want for nothing with the Lord as our shepherd as goodness and mercy shall follow us all the days of our lives as we dwell in the lords own house. In the Second Reading from Ephesians; Christ has made us one by His sacrifice, breaking down barriers and granting us all access to the Father, ensuring peace among us.
In the Gospel story we listen to Jesus as he tells the apostles ‘You must come away all by yourselves and rest for a while’. He first planned to give his Apostles a well-earned rest. They had evidently worked hard while out on their mission and a few days rest would restore their lost energy. He himself, too, must have been hard pressed, preaching and dealing with the crowds. In the absence of the Apostles he had no one to help him he too needed a rest. He, therefore, planned that they should go to a quiet corner of Galilee where there was no village and where they would not be disturbed. As we all know sometimes the best laid plans go astray as the people got to the quiet spot first. He could have sent them away, but again his human compassion took over. They were like sheep without a shepherd and seeing the people of Galilee so anxious to hear about God and his mercy, he let them stay and began to preach the good news of forgiveness and hope to them. Jesus cares for us and all those who need rest and spiritual nourishment as he did his apostles and the crowd in the Gospel!
We have only to listen to Jesus speaking within our hearts to hear where we will find him. In addition to that blessing, we all know people who mirror the Lord’s unselfish care for others. Often we are the recipient of that care and attention. We might take those people for granted whether they are in our families, communities, work places or parishes. The widespread problems of so many are symptoms of deep unsatisfied longings to be loved and to love. Can we be a little more caring towards the lost and lonely people we know? And will we let Jesus say to us: ‘I was a stranger and you made me welcome, lacking clothes and you clothed me, sick and you visited me, in prison and you came to see me? Jesus has clearly identified himself with people in physical, emotional and spiritual need. To meet them is to meet him especially these days where so many have little or almost nothing and the few have so much. Jesus has the answers to our questions; and they all come down to living a life deeply in harmony with God. And he not only tells us but shows us the way. He talks the talk but he also walks the walk with us.
And the walk eventually takes him to Jerusalem and up the hill to Golgotha where he gave his life for us so that we may have life. Jesus meets us,right where we are as a shepherd king, with genuine concern for us – not as a warrior king with threats and punishments. All those who really encounter Jesus and his message have an anchor in their lives. The anchor is the care and concern of the Good Shepherd for all of us. This is what we believe and we are called to share the love of Christ that we have received with others where we are today.
Fullerton T 