July 22, 2018

Gospel: Mk 6:30-34
The apostles returned and reported to Jesus all they had done and taught. Then he said to them, “Let us go off by ourselves into a remote place and have some rest.” For there were so many people coming and going that the apostles had no time even to eat. And they went away in the boat to a secluded area by themselves. But people saw them leaving, and many could guess where they were going. So, from all the towns, they hurried there on foot, arriving ahead of them. As Jesus went ashore, he saw a large crowd, and he had compassion on them, for they were like sheep without a shepherd. And he began to teach them many things.

Lectio Divina
Read: Yahweh rightfully expresses His anger and frustration at the kind of shepherds who, instead of caring for the sheep, scatter them. Jesus, the good shepherd, forgoes his rightful rest out of compassion for the sheep and ministers to them. Christ, the true shepherd, gathers the scattered and unites them in his body – he is our peace.
Reflect: There is a great need for shepherds who deeply care for the sheep, who would even lay down their life for their sheep, who have deep compassion as their core emotion. If in some places the Church has failed to be an instrument of peace and transformation, perhaps it is because of the failure of the shepherd whose primary interest does not lie with the sheep, but elsewhere. But before we place our blame on others, we shall remind ourselves that as Christians, each one of us is called to be a shepherd to others.
Pray: Pray for shepherds after the heart of Jesus, the Good Shepherd.
Act: Call up and thank your pastor/superior/spiritual guide for being a shepherd.

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