Tags
2009, Carol Crater, Catholic, Ephesians, Jeremiah, July, Mark, Ordinary Time, Psalm, Relfections, Thoughts
Jeremiah 23:1-6; Psalm 23; Ephesians 2:13-18; Mark 6:30-34
When I list the readings for each Sunday, I always make sure to list the Psalm, which is a passage from scripture (though not always from the book of Psalms – there are other psalms in the Bible!) – but I don’t list the Alleluia verse, or Gospel Acclamation, which is equally a passage from scripture. Today’s acclamation is from John’s Gospel: “My sheep hear my voice, says the Lord; I know them, and they follow me.”
This is a particularly poignant verse in light of today’s Gospel reading, where Jesus and the apostles try to escape for a few days of rest – a mini-retreat perhaps. But the sheep hear his voice and follow him, and they no sooner get to the place of retreat when they are surrounded by a crowd of people “like sheep without a shepherd” – and Jesus resumes teaching. I suspect most people in church ministry can identify with this passage – it’s very difficult to maintain the balance between being a good shepherd and maintaining dependent sheep.
How are you like a sheep in your life as a Christian? How are you like a shepherd?
Sisters of the Holy Family 