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16th Sunday B
Jeremiah 23:1-6
Prophet Jeremiah attributes the troubles faced by Israel (defeat and deportation) to a lack of leadership, corruption, and neglect by their kings (Ch 22). The kings, acting as shepherds in the name of God, have failed in tending to the flock. In biblical thought, the king was considered the supreme shepherd on earth, (cf s1S#28 Shepherd, 4/25/21, “ro’ēh” ( רֹ֥עֵה ): in OT, it refers, most of the times to rulers of the people, like the king, royal officers, elders, judges). When he fails, disaster follows. However, after condemning these past kings (v1ff), the prophet speaks of a time of restoration (v3ff) to be led by a messianic king, representing everything his predecessors failed to be: he will rule on David’s throne with complete covenant fidelity (v5), and as righteous, he will be a concrete manifestation of Yahweh’s justice (v6).
Mark 6:30-40
This account marks the end of the first mission of the twelve (6:7-13) and sets the stage for the story of the feeding of the five thousand (6:34-44). After the twelve reported their success (v30), Jesus called them to a desert place to rest. However, the people prevent any respite for the disciples (v31). They quickly reach the destination on foot ahead of the disciples by boat (v33). Despite the crowd thwarting his desire to rest, there is no sign of annoyance in Jesus’ attitude. He begins to teach at once, fulfilling the prophetic word of Jeremiah and others that Yahweh’s people would be shepherded (verse 34; Numbers 27:17, Ezekiel 34:5f), which includes feeding and providing. Jesus stands before them full of compassion.
Ephesians 2:13-18
The word “peace” appears four times in these verses, with Christ simply defined as “our peace” in one instance (v14). Harmony between God and humanity was disrupted by Adam’s sin, resulting in alienation among people themselves, as illustrated in the Cain-Abel narrative (Gen 4). Christ has restored the original relationship on the vertical (Rom 6:10) and horizontal (Gal 3:27f) planes. With the right order re-established, peace now exists between Jew and Gentile through the elimination of the barrier that separated them (v14), brought about by the death and resurrection of Christ (v13). This results in a new creation and a new order centered on the formation of a new person, the body of Christ, where all find their unity (vv15ff; Col 1:20ff).
Today’s readings emphasize the importance of shepherding. Jesus, the righteous shepherd, brought us reconciliation and peace. He continues to shepherd us by teaching his word during the Liturgy of the Word and by ‘spreading the table before us’ during the Liturgy of the Eucharist. He is the one who still has compassion for any vast crowd, which is like sheep without a shepherd, but he only has us to show this. Are we all up to this challenge of Jesus? May it be so. Amen!
