Saturday, July 21, 2012
16TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME – B
JULY 22, 2012
16TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME – B
Jer 23:1-6 / Eph 2:13-18 / Mk 6:30-34
JEREMIAH 23:1-6
"Woe to the shepherds who mislead and scatter the sheep of my pasture!" This is the message of Yahweh, God of Israel, to the shepherds in charge of my people, "You have scattered my sheep and driven them away instead of caring for them. Now I will deal with you because of your evil deeds. I will gather the remnant of my sheep from every land to which I have driven them and I will bring them back to the grasslands. They will be fruitful and increase in number. I will appoint shepherds who will take care of them. No longer will they fear or be terrified. No one will be lost." Yahweh further says, "The day is coming when I will raise up a king who is David's righteous successor. He will rule wisely and govern with justice and righteousness. That will be a grandiose era when Judah will enjoy peace and Israel will live in safety. He will be called Yahweh-our justice!"
EPHESIANS 2:13-18
But now, in Christ Jesus and by his blood, you who were once far off have come near. For Christ is our peace, he who has made the two peoples one, destroying in his own flesh the wall— the hatred—which separated us. He abolished the Law with its commands and precepts. He made peace in uniting the two peoples in him, creating out of the two one New Man. He destroyed hatred and reconciled us both to God through the cross, making the two one body. He came to proclaim peace; peace to you who were far off, peace to the Jews who were near. Through him we—the two peoples—approach the Father in one Spirit.
MARK 6:30-34
The apostles returned and reported to Jesus all they had done and taught. Then he said to them, "Go off by yourselves to 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 a long teaching session with them.
REFLECTION
In the first reading, Jeremiah, who unfortunately is often referred to as a prophet of doom and gloom, accuses the kings of Judah for being so inept in ruling the people. He tells them that the Lord will punish them for their lack of care and concern. However, the reading ends on a good note that suggests hope. God will eventually send the Messiah who shall be the savior, a clear allusion to Jesus.
The Gospel is a fulfillment of the promise in Jesus, the true and good Shepherd whose utter concern for his flock is reflected in his teaching them many things to satisfy their hunger. Jesus is filled with compassion when he sees the people hungry for the Word of God. And so, despite his fatigue and desire for rest, he decides to teach them lengthily. By this act, Jesus shows the primacy of the needs of others over one's personal needs.
Good leadership can be seen in parents who put the needs of their children first before their work, before their own personal needs. They have to be careful in what they do because they set the examples to their children. Children depend on them, look up to them, and follow what they do.
Sometimes we ask ourselves if putting the needs of others ahead of ours should always be done. Are we not setting ourselves up for some possible burnout if we always have to respond to the needs of others at the expense of our legitimate need to take care of ourselves?
As we assume various leadership roles in life, to be a good shepherd also means to take time out from such endeavors. We need to rest and to re-energize just like what Jesus intended to do together with his apostles. Yet, we have to remember that we can make ourselves available whenever there is some need even though this will deny us of our legitimate desire for rest. In doing so, we may be able to pattern ourselves after the Good Shepherd himself, Jesus, who surely will be pleased with us.
PRAYER REQUESTS
We pray …
… for a deep and profound respect for life, especially for the unborn.
… for the speedy recovery and healing of
- Fr. Ismael Zuloaga, SJ
- Baby Aina
- Luke, Kristen, Bob, Tom B, Jack, Denise, Delores, Linda O & Fr Larry
- Samson Merced
- Zosima Merced
- Mon Torres
- Ditas dela Paz
- Tito Oreta
… for the personal intentions of Josheil Dapo
… for all the prayer intentions in the MTQ Dailyprayer Diary.
16TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME – B
Jer 23:1-6 / Eph 2:13-18 / Mk 6:30-34
JEREMIAH 23:1-6
"Woe to the shepherds who mislead and scatter the sheep of my pasture!" This is the message of Yahweh, God of Israel, to the shepherds in charge of my people, "You have scattered my sheep and driven them away instead of caring for them. Now I will deal with you because of your evil deeds. I will gather the remnant of my sheep from every land to which I have driven them and I will bring them back to the grasslands. They will be fruitful and increase in number. I will appoint shepherds who will take care of them. No longer will they fear or be terrified. No one will be lost." Yahweh further says, "The day is coming when I will raise up a king who is David's righteous successor. He will rule wisely and govern with justice and righteousness. That will be a grandiose era when Judah will enjoy peace and Israel will live in safety. He will be called Yahweh-our justice!"
EPHESIANS 2:13-18
But now, in Christ Jesus and by his blood, you who were once far off have come near. For Christ is our peace, he who has made the two peoples one, destroying in his own flesh the wall— the hatred—which separated us. He abolished the Law with its commands and precepts. He made peace in uniting the two peoples in him, creating out of the two one New Man. He destroyed hatred and reconciled us both to God through the cross, making the two one body. He came to proclaim peace; peace to you who were far off, peace to the Jews who were near. Through him we—the two peoples—approach the Father in one Spirit.
MARK 6:30-34
The apostles returned and reported to Jesus all they had done and taught. Then he said to them, "Go off by yourselves to 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 a long teaching session with them.
REFLECTION
In the first reading, Jeremiah, who unfortunately is often referred to as a prophet of doom and gloom, accuses the kings of Judah for being so inept in ruling the people. He tells them that the Lord will punish them for their lack of care and concern. However, the reading ends on a good note that suggests hope. God will eventually send the Messiah who shall be the savior, a clear allusion to Jesus.
The Gospel is a fulfillment of the promise in Jesus, the true and good Shepherd whose utter concern for his flock is reflected in his teaching them many things to satisfy their hunger. Jesus is filled with compassion when he sees the people hungry for the Word of God. And so, despite his fatigue and desire for rest, he decides to teach them lengthily. By this act, Jesus shows the primacy of the needs of others over one's personal needs.
Good leadership can be seen in parents who put the needs of their children first before their work, before their own personal needs. They have to be careful in what they do because they set the examples to their children. Children depend on them, look up to them, and follow what they do.
Sometimes we ask ourselves if putting the needs of others ahead of ours should always be done. Are we not setting ourselves up for some possible burnout if we always have to respond to the needs of others at the expense of our legitimate need to take care of ourselves?
As we assume various leadership roles in life, to be a good shepherd also means to take time out from such endeavors. We need to rest and to re-energize just like what Jesus intended to do together with his apostles. Yet, we have to remember that we can make ourselves available whenever there is some need even though this will deny us of our legitimate desire for rest. In doing so, we may be able to pattern ourselves after the Good Shepherd himself, Jesus, who surely will be pleased with us.
PRAYER REQUESTS
We pray …
… for a deep and profound respect for life, especially for the unborn.
… for the speedy recovery and healing of
- Fr. Ismael Zuloaga, SJ
- Baby Aina
- Luke, Kristen, Bob, Tom B, Jack, Denise, Delores, Linda O & Fr Larry
- Samson Merced
- Zosima Merced
- Mon Torres
- Ditas dela Paz
- Tito Oreta
… for the personal intentions of Josheil Dapo
… for all the prayer intentions in the MTQ Dailyprayer Diary.
- Birthday: Msgr. Antero Sarmiento
- Wedding Anniversary: Raymund & Julie Chua
- In Memoriam (+): Julian Uy Jr. (Oct 5, 1945-Jul 22, 2002)+
- In Memoriam (+): Jose C. Maristela (Feb 4, 1916-Jul 22, 1979)+
… for families who are in need of healing
… for world peace and reconciliation.
Finally, we pray for one another, for those who have asked our prayers and for those who need our prayers the most.
Have a good day!
**************************************************
These reflections are distributed free and are for personal use only. Feel free to send the Daily Prayer reflections to your friends, colleagues and relatives; however, if you do, please include the following:
+================================================+
| The Daily Prayer, a service and an apostolate of the
| priests, laity and friends of Mary the Queen Parish
| http://www.marythequeen.org
| Distributed free and for personal use only.
+================================================+
-- - Wedding Anniversary: Raymund & Julie Chua
- In Memoriam (+): Julian Uy Jr. (Oct 5, 1945-Jul 22, 2002)+
- In Memoriam (+): Jose C. Maristela (Feb 4, 1916-Jul 22, 1979)+
… for families who are in need of healing
… for world peace and reconciliation.
Finally, we pray for one another, for those who have asked our prayers and for those who need our prayers the most.
Have a good day!
**************************************************
These reflections are distributed free and are for personal use only. Feel free to send the Daily Prayer reflections to your friends, colleagues and relatives; however, if you do, please include the following:
+================================================+
| The Daily Prayer, a service and an apostolate of the
| priests, laity and friends of Mary the Queen Parish
| http://www.marythequeen.org
| Distributed free and for personal use only.
+================================================+
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# posted by F O O D F O R T H O U G H T @ 3:58 AM 
