In
the Gospel today, Mark tells us that Jesus brought his disciples to a
deserted place for them to rest. However, many saw them and ran from
the towns and arrived ahead of them. When Jesus went ashore, he saw a
great crowd and he had compassion for them, because they were like
sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them.
The Jews had what they
call shepherds. These were the high priests, the priests at the
Temple and the Levites, who were supposed to look after the spiritual
needs of the people. Yet we know they have neglected their
duties, which is why
people flocked to Jesus
when he appeared in the scene. When Jesus saw the people coming to
him, Mark tells us, he had pity on them because they were like sheep
without a shepherd. The people were not looking for material food
from Jesus, they were hungry for
spiritual food. Jesus knew this so he began
to teach them.
Deep
within us is
this desire for God. The First Reading tells us to obey
our leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your
souls and will give an account.
God appointed pastors to look after our spiritual needs. But people
should not base their faith on the
clergy
because we are frail people who sin and will disappoint you. The
First Reading tells us our Lord Jesus is the Great
Shepherd
of the sheep, who makes us complete in
everything good by
the blood of the eternal covenant, so that we may do his will. The
clergy or
any human leader will
not
satisfy
the needs of the laity because it is
only Jesus
who completes our longing.
We
should not underestimate the power of God to work in the baptized. As
long as there is the desire to strive for holiness, God
will provide the grace to
achieve it.
This is why it is vital for every Christian, clergy or lay, to have a
loving relationship with God, because without
this relationship, we will never be holy, no matter how much we try.
The
Psalm today is
the result of David’s
intimate relationship with God. When we have that intimate
relationship with God, God
becomes our shepherd and we will not lack. This promise holds true
for material as well as spiritual needs. St Paul said in Philippians
4:19, My God
shall supply all your needs, according to his riches in
glory.
So when the clergy lacks and disappoints, turn to Jesus and he will
fill what we, the clergy, fail to give you.
What
else will the Great Shepherd do? At
least three things according to the Psalm:
- He makes me lie down in green pastures. The Great Shepherd gives us rest. Jesus tells us in Matthew 11:28, Come to me all who labor and are burdened and I will give you rest. Only Jesus can give us rest.
- He leads me beside still waters. Jesus told the Samaritan woman, If you know the gift of God, and who he is that says to you, Give me to drink; you perhaps would have asked of him, and he would have given you living water. Jesus gives us himself to refresh us.
- He restores my soul. Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world, including our sins. By forgiving our sins, he restores us to our original dignity as sons and daughters of God. The question is: will I accept his forgiveness?
We
celebrate St Paul Miki and his companions. They were Japanese
Catholics,
clergy
and laity, who
lived
in the 1500’s amidst the persecution of the Japanese
Emperor.
They willingly
gave up their lives for the Great Shepherd, finding comfort by
singing the Te Deum as
they marched almost
1000 km to
their death.
Paul Miki and his companions show every baptized person has the power
to become a saint as long as they come
to Jesus and allow
him
to
give them rest, refreshment and restoration.
When
Jesus saw the crowd, his
deepest part yearned
for them. He also yearns today for
those who search for him. When
we are weary, thirsting for life or
have lost
all hope, we come to Jesus.
Do not be afraid. Jesus yearns for you to come to him so he can give
you new life.
sacrifice of Jesus, let
us approach the throne of grace with confidence and tell
Jesus, our Great Shepherd
that we
give him permission to teach us many things as
we surrender our lives to
him because it is only in
submitting to Jesus and
obeying him
that we can be holy.
Come to Jesus. He is the
Great Shepherd soul
yearns
to give
you rest,
to refresh you and
to restore
you and
lead you
to the eternal life his
Father has planned for you. Come
to Jesus, because when we have him, we have all we need.
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