Jul-18 Liturgical Study Sixteenth Sunday

 

Jul-18 Sixteenth Sunday

Jeremiah 23:1-6

This passage is the conclusion of the prophecy of Jeremiah concerning the shepherds of Israel. The bad shepherds of the flock are the five ungodly kings of Judah (Josiah, Jehoahaz, Jehoiakim, Jehoiachin, and Zedekiah) on the throne of David who have brought to ruin and scattered the descendants of Abraham and David, until the fall of Jerusalem to Babylonians led by Nebuchadnezzar and the destruction of Solomon's Temple in 587 BC. Christ is spoken of as a branch from David's family who will set things right. 

Psalm 23

King David, a mere shepherd-boy who was chosen to be the ruler over Israel, sings this psalm of Yahweh, the true Shepherd and King of men. It sounds as if he wrote it in his later years, with a fullness of experience, and a tone of subdued, quiet confidence which speaks of a heart mellowed by years, and of a faith made strong by many trials. The old king seems to be looking back with such vivid and loving remembrance to his childhood’s occupation, the green valleys, the gentle streams, the dark glens where he had led his flocks in the old days. Then you can see him traversing all the stormy years of warfare and rebellion, of crime and sorrow, which lay between, and finding in all God’s guardian presence and gracious guidance? The faith which looks back and says, ‘It is all very good,’ is not less than that which looks forward and says, ‘Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life.’

Ephesians 2:13-18

Previously many Judiac rites could only be performed within the walls of the temple of Jerusalem. But Christ, having now taken away that law, preached a new gospel in which a spiritual form of worship could be performed everywhere. Furthermore he welcomed both Jews and Gentiles into one and the same church; making them all one people of God; a union which could not have taken place if the Mosaic law had been continued.

Mark 6:30-34

The Twelve apostles had just returned from their first missions without Jesus. They traveled throughout Galilee, teaching people to repent of their sins, healing the sick, and casting out demons (Mark 6:12–13). Although exhausted they are eager to tell Jesus what has happened but he bids them to come to a quiet place (widely recognised to be Bethsaida)

Jesus too has travelled through Galilee, preaching and performing miracles, it's common for Him to be so inundated with people that He has no time to rest. He is exhausted to the point of falling asleep in a boat in a violent storm (Mark 4:35–41). 

Sometimes, desolate, lonely places provide the most rest. When we are separated from loved ones and have no urgent demands on our time, we can breathe, rest, and reconnect with God.

But a crowd of five thousand men plus women and children (Matthew 14:21) quickly follow. As much as Jesus needs to spend time with His chosen apostles (shepherds-in-training), He can't neglect the thousands of lost sheep who so urgently need Him