Although we have already celebrated Good Shepherd Sunday this year, today’s readings speak clearly to Jesus being the Good Shepherd. In the first reading, Jeremiah criticizes the Jewish leaders of his time for leading the people astray and tells of God’s promise to send a new shepherd. Under Him “Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell in security.” Jesus, the true “Lord of Justice,” is the fulfillment of this promise. The psalm is Psalm 23, which we’re all familiar with… “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.” In the second reading, St. Paul speaks of Jesus uniting both Jews and Gentiles into “one flock” through His sacrifice on the cross. Finally, in the Gospel passage from Mark, we hear about the Disciples returning from their mission work of tending to the flock. Jesus called them away for some rest and prayer, but upon seeing the crowd that followed them as “sheep without a shepherd,” He began to minister to them despite being hungry and tired.

Two things strike me from these readings. The first is that we are also called to shepherd others, just as Jesus sent the Disciples out to do. As followers of Jesus, it is our mission to pastor, or shepherd, others. We are called to care for people’s needs and to help them find the right path when they have been led astray. This is hard work and leads to the second point: the need for us to allow Jesus to be our Shepherd. We need to take time, the time that the Disciples were denied in today’s reading, for peaceful time with Jesus. We need time to let Him nourish us with His word through prayer and contemplation. It’s hard to do that in our busy lives, but we need to make the effort. Then, as He is to us, we can be to others. 

      Reflection by parishioner John Ceglarek