Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B 18th July 2021
Lectionary Readings: Jeremiah 23 v1-6; Psalm 23; Ephesians 2 v11-22; Mark 6 v30-34, 53-56.
Meeting the needs of the people.
Mark says, “When Jesus got out of the boat, he saw the large crowd that was like sheep without a shepherd. He felt sorry for the people and started teaching them many things.” (Mark 6 v34)
Jesus reacted with compassion, recognizing their need for hope of a better life. He taught them about the kingdom of God. A realm where God is in control, where love rules in the hearts of the people. Jesus encouraged the people to play their part in creating God’s kingdom, here on earth. Jesus taught his followers to pray – “Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” Jesus taught them that by showing their love for others, by adopting God’s ways, and his priorities of justice and compassion, then life would be better for all.
The people of Israel were still in the same condition as they had been many centuries before, in the time of the prophet Jeremiah. They were thirsting for good leadership, leaders who served the people, not themselves. Jeremiah, speaking on behalf of God, said, “Some day I will appoint an honest king from the house of David, a king who will be wise and rule with justice.” (Jeremiah 23 v5).
All the New Testament writers recognise Jesus as God’s appointed king, his Messiah/Christ, the good shepherd, sent to help us ‘see’ that another way of living is possible. That if we let go of our selfish desires and adopt instead, God’s desires, his priorities, his kingdom values, then our minds will be transformed, and we will find not only our own lives, but also the lives of those around us, transformed for the better.
God’s passion for justice and mercy, relayed to us by numerous prophets, throughout the ages, continues to guide the thinking of people of faith today, via his Holy Spirit.
Bernadette Farrell reflects on our human condition, our need of Christ, and how we might respond to the needs of others, in her hymn “Longing for light, we wait in darkness.” (Singing the Faith 706)
Longing for light, we wait in darkness.
Longing for truth, we turn to you.
Make us your own, your holy people,
light for the world to see.
Christ be our light!
Shine in our hearts.
Shine through the darkness.
Christ, be our light!
Shine on your church gathered today.
Longing for peace, our world is troubled.
Longing for hope, many despair.
Your word alone has power to save us.
Make us your living voice.
Longing for food, many are hungry.
Longing for water, many still thirst.
Make us your bread, broken for others,
shared until all are fed.
Longing for shelter, many are homeless.
Longing for warmth, many are cold.
Make us your building, sheltering others,
walls made of living stone.
Many the gifts, many the people,
many the hearts that yearn to belong.
Lets us be servants to one another,
making your kingdom come.
Bible quotations are taken from The Contemporary English Version.