Sunday, July 19, 2015

Good Shepherds

The scene it today's Gospel displays a compassionate Jesus. He wants to give the enthusiastic disciples and chance to tell him all the marvels they encountered on their "missionary journey" on which he sent them in last week's Gospel.  They needed a quiet place by themselves for this, yet a huge crowd awaits them when they arrive. No time for peace and quiet.  Jesus is not upset, rather he has pity on the people,  changes the game plan and teaches them "many things, for they were like sheep without a shepherd." (Mk 6:34). His compassion is the model not only for our "shepherds", our priests and bishops, bur for us as well.  We too must be compassionate shepherds, willing to change plans to meet the needs of others.  We wonder why our churches are empty.  Do people find good shepherds in the pews or on the altar?  Do they find people who are interested in them, willing to listen, willing to "go the extra mile" with them.  Pope Saint John Paul II spoke about the "new evangelization.  What is it?  Is it a new kind of preaching? That might be part of it, but it is basically each individual LIVING the message of Jesus and carrying it to others by actions that make people ask: "Why is this person so kind?  Why is he or she so interested in me?  What is he or she  so different?"  If people see the Gospel lived, as we see in this passage today, they will come  back to the fold, for they will have found good shepherds.
Bro. Rene

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