July 21, 2024
Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Jeremiah 23:1-6
Psalm 23
Ephesians 2:13-18
Mark 6: 30-34
Our True Shepherd
Today’s scriptural theme as presented by the Church follows what was presented last week and before. Throughout this period of Ordinary Time, the overall theme is that of God’s eternal salvation and God’s eternal justice.
Ask this question. Who do you choose to follow?
One must be very careful in selecting one’s leader. A false prophet might be waiting to lead you to his or her own personal advantage. The actions and not just the words must help indicate the type of leader you are choosing.
In the gospel story, Jesus is frustrated because he and the apostles cannot get needed rest to recuperate from the apostles’ own recent mission. Yet, when Jesus saw the crowd that was so much in need of guidance, he took the time to “teach them many things.” The people much needed a shepherd. Jesus puts aside his own desires and needs and serves them. He sacrifices for their needs.
In the second reading of the day, unity is much the theme. Christ’s mission was to restore unity between humankind and God the Father. The early Church had much the same challenge we have today. There were divisions among the different groups of people. The divisions were due to the differing perspectives each had depending on how they first came to know Jesus. Jewish Christians and gentile Christians approached membership in the faith community differently.
The prophet Jeremiah (first reading) rants against the kings who did not properly lead the people. Due to their malfeasance, the people lost their homeland and were sent into exile. These leaders did not put the needs of the people first. Nevertheless, Jeremiah had hope God would send the Messiah who would set things right.
Let the question be on you today. Ask yourself what kind of leader you would be. What kind of leader are you now? Are you willing to put aside your own selfish wishes for the good of others? Can you keep in check the many temptations that can come with being in a seat of authority? Will you make the effort to study, pray and lead by example? Are you striving to be a leader for some reason of your own? Or like the prophet Amos from last week and Jeremiah this week, are you chosen by God; was being a leader or prophet the last thing on your mind but on God’s mind for you?
Look to the prophets in the Bible. Then, look to Jesus and how he behaved. Use the true shepherd as your guide if you should ever be in the position to lead in authority.
Ask this question. Who do you choose to follow?
One must be very careful in selecting one’s leader. A false prophet might be waiting to lead you to his or her own personal advantage. The actions and not just the words must help indicate the type of leader you are choosing.
In the gospel story, Jesus is frustrated because he and the apostles cannot get needed rest to recuperate from the apostles’ own recent mission. Yet, when Jesus saw the crowd that was so much in need of guidance, he took the time to “teach them many things.” The people much needed a shepherd. Jesus puts aside his own desires and needs and serves them. He sacrifices for their needs.
In the second reading of the day, unity is much the theme. Christ’s mission was to restore unity between humankind and God the Father. The early Church had much the same challenge we have today. There were divisions among the different groups of people. The divisions were due to the differing perspectives each had depending on how they first came to know Jesus. Jewish Christians and gentile Christians approached membership in the faith community differently.
The prophet Jeremiah (first reading) rants against the kings who did not properly lead the people. Due to their malfeasance, the people lost their homeland and were sent into exile. These leaders did not put the needs of the people first. Nevertheless, Jeremiah had hope God would send the Messiah who would set things right.
Let the question be on you today. Ask yourself what kind of leader you would be. What kind of leader are you now? Are you willing to put aside your own selfish wishes for the good of others? Can you keep in check the many temptations that can come with being in a seat of authority? Will you make the effort to study, pray and lead by example? Are you striving to be a leader for some reason of your own? Or like the prophet Amos from last week and Jeremiah this week, are you chosen by God; was being a leader or prophet the last thing on your mind but on God’s mind for you?
Look to the prophets in the Bible. Then, look to Jesus and how he behaved. Use the true shepherd as your guide if you should ever be in the position to lead in authority.
Peace and blessings,
Father Bob
Father Bob
Father Bob's
Video Reflections
Each week Father Bob posts a Video Reflection on the Spiritual readings for the weekend Mass. These Videos are not intended to replace your prescence at mass each week! Much like Scripture Sharing on Thursday evening from 7 pm - 8 pm, these videos act as a point of reference to enhance your knowledge and better prepare you to participate in each weeks celebration.
Each week the videos are archive and can be streamed by clicking on the Bulletin/Videos button above.
Each week the videos are archive and can be streamed by clicking on the Bulletin/Videos button above.
Pope Francis’ Prayer for Peace
Now, Lord, come to our aid! Grant us peace, teach us peace; guide our steps in the way of peace. Open our eyes and our hearts, and give us the courage to say: "Never again war!"; "With war everything is lost". Instill in our hearts the courage to take concrete steps to achieve peace.
Amen
Amen
Sacraments of Christian Initiation
Click on the links below for more information
Sacraments of Healing
Sacraments of Service
This Weeks Scripture Readings
July 28, 2024
Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Reading I
2 Kgs 4:42-44
A man came from Baal-shalishah bringing to Elisha, the man of God,
twenty barley loaves made from the firstfruits,
and fresh grain in the ear.
Elisha said, "Give it to the people to eat."
But his servant objected,
"How can I set this before a hundred people?"
Elisha insisted, "Give it to the people to eat."
"For thus says the LORD,
'They shall eat and there shall be some left over.'"
And when they had eaten, there was some left over,
as the LORD had said.
twenty barley loaves made from the firstfruits,
and fresh grain in the ear.
Elisha said, "Give it to the people to eat."
But his servant objected,
"How can I set this before a hundred people?"
Elisha insisted, "Give it to the people to eat."
"For thus says the LORD,
'They shall eat and there shall be some left over.'"
And when they had eaten, there was some left over,
as the LORD had said.
Responsorial Psalm
Ps 145
R. (cf. 16) The hand of the Lord feeds us; he answers all our needs.
Let all your works give you thanks, O LORD,
and let your faithful ones bless you.
Let them discourse of the glory of your kingdom
and speak of your might.
R. The hand of the Lord feeds us; he answers all our needs.
The eyes of all look hopefully to you,
and you give them their food in due season;
you open your hand
and satisfy the desire of every living thing.
R. The hand of the Lord feeds us; he answers all our needs.
The LORD is just in all his ways
and holy in all his works.
The LORD is near to all who call upon him,
to all who call upon him in truth.
R. The hand of the Lord feeds us; he answers all our needs.
Let all your works give you thanks, O LORD,
and let your faithful ones bless you.
Let them discourse of the glory of your kingdom
and speak of your might.
R. The hand of the Lord feeds us; he answers all our needs.
The eyes of all look hopefully to you,
and you give them their food in due season;
you open your hand
and satisfy the desire of every living thing.
R. The hand of the Lord feeds us; he answers all our needs.
The LORD is just in all his ways
and holy in all his works.
The LORD is near to all who call upon him,
to all who call upon him in truth.
R. The hand of the Lord feeds us; he answers all our needs.
Reading II
Eph 4:1-6
Brothers and sisters:
I, a prisoner for the Lord,
urge you to live in a manner worthy of the call you have received,
with all humility and gentleness, with patience,
bearing with one another through love,
striving to preserve the unity of the spirit through the bond of peace:
one body and one Spirit,
as you were also called to the one hope of your call;
one Lord, one faith, one baptism;
one God and Father of all,
who is over all and through all and in all.
I, a prisoner for the Lord,
urge you to live in a manner worthy of the call you have received,
with all humility and gentleness, with patience,
bearing with one another through love,
striving to preserve the unity of the spirit through the bond of peace:
one body and one Spirit,
as you were also called to the one hope of your call;
one Lord, one faith, one baptism;
one God and Father of all,
who is over all and through all and in all.
Alleluia
Lk 7:16
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
A great prophet has risen in our midst.
God has visited his people.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
A great prophet has risen in our midst.
God has visited his people.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
The Gospel
Jn 6:1-15
Jesus went across the Sea of Galilee.
A large crowd followed him,
because they saw the signs he was performing on the sick.
Jesus went up on the mountain,
and there he sat down with his disciples.
The Jewish feast of Passover was near.
When Jesus raised his eyes
and saw that a large crowd was coming to him,
he said to Philip,
"Where can we buy enough food for them to eat?"
He said this to test him,
because he himself knew what he was going to do.
Philip answered him,
"Two hundred days' wages worth of food would not be enough
for each of them to have a little."
One of his disciples,
Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, said to him,
"There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish;
but what good are these for so many?"
Jesus said, "Have the people recline."
Now there was a great deal of grass in that place.
So the men reclined, about five thousand in number.
Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks,
and distributed them to those who were reclining,
and also as much of the fish as they wanted.
When they had had their fill, he said to his disciples,
"Gather the fragments left over,
so that nothing will be wasted."
So they collected them,
and filled twelve wicker baskets with fragments
from the five barley loaves
that had been more than they could eat.
When the people saw the sign he had done, they said,
"This is truly the Prophet, the one who is to come into the world."
Since Jesus knew that they were going to come and carry him off
to make him king,
he withdrew again to the mountain alone.
A large crowd followed him,
because they saw the signs he was performing on the sick.
Jesus went up on the mountain,
and there he sat down with his disciples.
The Jewish feast of Passover was near.
When Jesus raised his eyes
and saw that a large crowd was coming to him,
he said to Philip,
"Where can we buy enough food for them to eat?"
He said this to test him,
because he himself knew what he was going to do.
Philip answered him,
"Two hundred days' wages worth of food would not be enough
for each of them to have a little."
One of his disciples,
Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, said to him,
"There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish;
but what good are these for so many?"
Jesus said, "Have the people recline."
Now there was a great deal of grass in that place.
So the men reclined, about five thousand in number.
Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks,
and distributed them to those who were reclining,
and also as much of the fish as they wanted.
When they had had their fill, he said to his disciples,
"Gather the fragments left over,
so that nothing will be wasted."
So they collected them,
and filled twelve wicker baskets with fragments
from the five barley loaves
that had been more than they could eat.
When the people saw the sign he had done, they said,
"This is truly the Prophet, the one who is to come into the world."
Since Jesus knew that they were going to come and carry him off
to make him king,
he withdrew again to the mountain alone.
Next Weeks Readings
August 4, 2024
Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Exodus 16:2-4, 12-15
Psalm 78
Ephesians 4:17, 20-24
John 6:24 - 35
Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Exodus 16:2-4, 12-15
Psalm 78
Ephesians 4:17, 20-24
John 6:24 - 35
The Jesus Prayer...
Lord Jesus Christ
have Mercy on me a Poor Sinner.
have Mercy on me a Poor Sinner.