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.
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.
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."
7/13/09
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First reactions:
ReplyDeleteJesus invites the apostles - who have just finished performing some impressive works in His name, about which the other Gospels tell us they were pretty excited - to come away and rest just when they're full of energy. They're not glum or downtrodden, the kind of times when one might expect Jesus to say, "Come away and rest awhile." Not quite sure why He does that...
In the first reading, God's getting pretty mad at the shepherds He's put over His people. So He says, "I Myself will gather the remnant." Makes sense: if you want something done right, you do it yourself. But then He says, "I will appoint shepherds for them who will shepherd them." If this were some mortal boss, I'd point out that that didn't work so well last time; what makes him think it's going to work this time? What's different on the second go-round? Moreover, if we take these "new shepherds" to be the apostles and bishops of the New Israel, do they really live up to the billing? "[The people] need no longer fear and tremble; and none shall be missing." An Argentine priest was telling me just the other day what great bishops we are blessed to have here in the US, but even so, I don't think they quite match Jeremiah's prophesy. Who, then, are these new shepherds?
Sometimes, after you have a great or powerful experience, nothing hits the spot quite like some food and drink with friends. On a human level, this could have been a fantastic moment for Jesus to be with the 12 men and for them to be with him. ...perhaps I am reading too much that isn't there.
ReplyDeleteI think it's interesting that Jeremiah prophesies about shepherds for the lost sheep of the flock and Jesus, the good shepherd talks about a king for them.
Hey guys, I have a quick question. This might not be the best place to ask but, since both of you know dallas pretty well i wanted to ask you both about what you think is a good church in the diocese that I could consider participating in, ministry wise. I have been kind of feeling a pull from the Lord that I should help out in music ministry somewhere but it is really hard to discern churches by their websites. Anyways, if we could start a discussion about the churches you guys like in the area and you think would be compatible for me (they don't have to be that compatible if the Lord wants me there). I would very much appreciate it. Thanks
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