First Reading (Jeremiah 23,1-6)
Reading the Book of the Prophet Jeremiah.
“Woe to the shepherds who let the flock of my pasture be lost and scattered, says the Lord! Thus this says the Lord, the God of Israel, to the shepherds who feed my people: You have scattered my flock, you drove him away and did not take care of him; behold, I will check this among you and punish the wickedness of your actions, says the Lord. And I will gather the rest of my sheep from all the countries where they are driven out, and I will bring them back to their fields. , and they will reproduce and multiply. I will raise up new shepherds for them to shepherd them; they will no longer suffer fear and anguish, none of them will be lost, says the Lord. of David; he will reign as king and will be wise, he will enforce justice and righteousness in the land. In those days, Judah will be saved and Israel will live in peace;
– Word of the Lord.
– Thank God.
Second Reading (Ephesians 2:13-18)
Reading of Saint Paul’s Letter to the Ephesians.
Brethren: Now, in Jesus Christ, you who were once far off have become near, through the blood of Christ. He, indeed, is our peace: out of what was divided, he made unity. In his flesh he destroyed the wall of separation: enmity. He abolished the Law with its commandments and decrees. He wanted, therefore, from the Jew and the pagan, to create in himself a single new man, establishing peace. He wanted to reconcile them with God, both in one body, through the cross; thus he destroyed in himself the enmity. He came to proclaim peace to you who were far away, and peace to those who were near. It is thanks to him that we both, in one Spirit, have access to the Father.
– Word of the Lord.
– Thank God.
Gospel (Mark 6,30-34)
Proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Mark.
— Glory to you, Lord.
At that time, the apostles met with Jesus and told him everything they had done and taught. He said to them, “Come alone to a deserted place, and rest a little.” There were, in fact, so many people arriving and leaving that they didn’t even have time to eat. So they went alone, by boat, to a deserted and remote place. Many saw them leave and recognized it was them. Leaving all the cities, they ran on foot, and arrived there before them. When Jesus disembarked, he saw a large crowd and felt compassion, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began to teach them many things.
— Word of Salvation.
— Glory to you, Lord.
Reflecting the Word of God
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
Imagine yourself in a vast field, the sun scorching overhead, your stomach growling with hunger, and a feeling of disorientation taking over you. They look around and see a crowd equally lost and hungry. Suddenly, on the horizon, a figure appears. Someone who radiates compassion, wisdom and authority. Someone who looks at you not as a number in a crowd, but as a precious individual. How would they feel?
This scene, my beloved, is not just a creation of the imagination, but a glimpse of what happened two thousand years ago, as told in the Gospel of Mark. And, surprisingly, it is also a reflection of our reality today.
“When Jesus disembarked, he saw a large crowd and was moved by them, for they were like sheep without a shepherd.” These words of Mark touch us deeply, for how many of us do not sometimes feel like sheep without a shepherd in this tumultuous world?
We live in a time of abundance of information but scarcity of wisdom. We have more digital connections than ever, but many feel deeply lonely. We look for direction in self-help, passing trends, and ephemeral philosophies, but we often find ourselves more lost than before. We are truly “sheep without a shepherd” in many ways.
But before we dive into Jesus’ compassion, let’s take a step back and examine the broader picture that our readings today paint for us.
Jeremiah, in our first reading, launches a powerful accusation: “Woe to the shepherds who let the flock of my pasture be lost and scattered, says the Lord!” What cutting words! Jeremiah is speaking to the leaders of his time – kings, priests, prophets – who failed in their duty to guide God’s people.
Let us reflect for a moment: who are the “shepherds” in our society today? Certainly, they include religious leaders, but also politicians, educators, media influencers, and all those in positions of authority and influence. How many of them actually care about the well-being of the “herd”? How many are more interested in “herding themselves,” as Jeremiah accuses, than in nurturing those in their care?
But pay attention! Before we just point fingers at others, let’s remember that each of us, on some level, is a “shepherd.” Parents, you are shepherds to your children. Teachers, you are shepherds to your students. Community leaders, you are shepherds to those you serve. How are we fulfilling this responsibility?
The good news is that God does not leave His people without hope. Through Jeremiah, He promises, “I myself will gather the rest of my sheep from all the countries where I have scattered them and will bring them back to their fields.” What a wonderful promise! God does not abandon his people. When human shepherds fail, the Divine Shepherd intervenes.
And how does God fulfill this promise? “I will raise up for David a legitimate seed (a righteous sprout), who will be king and rule wisely; he will enforce law and justice in the land.” This is a messianic prophecy, pointing to Jesus Christ, the Good Shepherd par excellence.
Now let’s jump forward a few centuries and consider Paul’s words to the Ephesians in our second reading. Paul speaks of Christ breaking down the barriers that separate us, “tearing down the wall of separation.” What a powerful image!
Think about the walls that divide our society today – walls of prejudice, of economic inequality, of political ideologies, of religious differences. Christ came to tear down all these walls. Paul says that Jesus “made two peoples into one.” He is speaking specifically of Jews and Gentiles, but the principle applies universally.
In Christ, there are no longer “us” and “them.” There is only “us” – a flock united under one Shepherd. As Paul says, Christ came “to create in himself one new man” and “to reconcile them both to God in one body.”
This is a revolutionary message in a world as divided as ours. Imagine if we actually lived this truth! If we saw each person, regardless of their background, status or beliefs, as part of the same flock, equally loved by the Shepherd.
And this brings us back to our Gospel. Jesus sees the crowd and is moved. The Greek word used here, “splagchnizomai,” is intensely visceral. It means being moved in one’s own bowels. It’s a deep compassion, which hurts.
This is how Jesus looks at us. Not with judgment or condemnation, but with deep compassion. He sees our hunger – not just physical, but spiritual. He sees our disorientation, our search for meaning and direction. And He responds.
How does Jesus respond? “He began to teach them many things.” Jesus feeds the crowd with truth, with wisdom, with hope. He doesn’t offer quick fixes or empty promises. He offers himself – the living Word of God.
Brothers and sisters, what does this mean for us today?
First, it is a call to humility. Let us recognize that we are part of this lost and hungry crowd. No matter how “together” we think we are, we all need the guidance and care of the Good Shepherd.
Second, it is a call to compassion. Just as Jesus was moved by the crowd, we should be moved by the needs of those around us. Let’s look beyond appearances and see the hungry and lost souls that surround us.
Third, it is a call to action. If we are followers of Christ, we are called to be his hands and feet in the world. How can we “feed” those around us? How can we be God’s instruments in tearing down walls of separation?
Fourth, it is a call to unity. In Christ, we are one flock. Let us work actively to overcome the divisions in our families, in our communities, in our Church.
Finally, it is a call to hope. No matter how lost or hungry we feel, we have a Shepherd who loves us deeply. A Shepherd who gave His life for His sheep. A Shepherd who promises to guide us to “green pastures” and “still waters”.
May we, in this week that begins, open our hearts to the care of the Good Shepherd. May we recognize his voice amid the noise of the world. And may we be instruments of His love and compassion to a hungry and lost world.
May the Lord, our Good Shepherd, bless and keep you. May He make His face shine upon you and have mercy on you. May the Lord turn his face toward you and grant you peace. Today Tomorrow and always. Amen.
