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."
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.
Reading II
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.
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.
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The first reading from Jeremiah speaks of shepherds who have misled God’s flock. This is my greatest fear: to stand between God and anyone. I am petrified that I will lead others away from God when all I desire is to connect them with God’s Son, so they can come to know love and life more.
The scripture speaks with a very consoling tone, almost as if I had to go through these past 5 weeks to fully understand the need for his peace. Whether it be traveling back to the U.S. from a semester in Ireland or driving from Colorado to Virginia to work, I have had no one, no where to lay my struggles. I am starting anew as a foreigner in my homeland. With intense rush of culture shock, a dark hour of weary drought and forlorn dawned on my spiritual life. Feeling far off from anything I once knew, I, the lost sheep, yearned to be back in the comfort of the Lord’s meadow.
My job this summer is calls me to lead others to Christ daily. I am one of two co-directors of a mission trip site for different youth groups and I lead the spiritual program every morning and evening. In the beginning, I felt no success for I could not feel God’s love in my life. Now halfway through my third week, I realize that talking to others about Jesus will not lead me through the dark valley of frustration, stress, and bewilderment. I must invite Jesus into my heart and continue to build my personal relationship with Christ, so my cup can overflow with his nurture.
One morning a camper came to me after the program. I had asked the question, “What would you do if Christ was closer to you?” The 12 year old boy, eyes filled with meekness, said, “I would stop standing.” Confused, I asked, “What do you mean?” With a rod and staff full of courage, he said, “I would stop standing for we are called to bow down to Christ.”
This young shepherd calmed the trembles of my heart, so I was able to give all the pain and strife to Jesus. Christ’s pity on me was no longer an embarrassment, but a sign of how he will strengthen me if I ask for it. Just as St. Augustine proclaimed, my heart finally found rest for it rested in the hands of the Lord. Jesus continues to be my peace even when I am surrounded by 90 teenagers daily. What a compassionate and caring Teacher!. |
Kevin Grillot, Senior
Saint Louis University
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