July 18
Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Give a Mass Offering
Mass Intentions
4:00 PM – William T. Eagan / Charles Kelly & Bernadette Tierney
7:30 AM – Victor Gaeds & Peter Badera / Peter & Antoinett Badera
10:30 AM – Michael Myatt / Carol & Don Scullion
5:00 PM – Walter Wychules / Elaine Lostumbo
Prayer for Spiritual Communion
My Jesus, I believe that you are present in the most Blessed Sacrament. I love You above all things and I desire to receive You into my soul. Since I cannot now receive You sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart. I embrace You as if You were already there, and unite myself wholly to You. Never permit me to be separated from You. Amen.
Readings
First Reading
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.
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
Psalms 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.
Second Reading
Ephesians 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 Acclamation
John 10:27
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
My sheep hear my voice, says the Lord;
I know them, and they follow me.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
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.
“The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.”
Reflection
It is unnerving when we feel lost or abandoned. I think it has to do with us not being in control of our destiny at that particular point in our life.
Jesus realizes that the people who were seeking a savior were like lost sheep. They were going astray, not sure where to turn, and this was not just a few people but a large number who were seeking him out. This causes Christ to feel for them in their time of suffering. They were like sheep without a shepherd.
When we find we are lost and struggling, it may be because we have decided to be our own shepherd. Personally, it may not be because I have chosen to reject Christ the Shepherd, but simply because out of bad habit, I have chosen to follow my own way. How do we return?
Simply, we recognize our fault and ask for forgiveness. Yes, this is humbling, but honestly, we should all be used to it. We have to or should have done it enough. All Christ wants to do for us is guide us to the Father through his example. Why do we so often struggle to set our own course? Perhaps, we just want to make sure that Christ, the Good Shepherd, will come after us and love us enough to lead us back to the flock.
Peace,
Fr. John
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