SIXTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

Also Read: Mass Readings for 18 July 2021

First Reading: Jeremiah 23: 1-6

The Gatherers Guide!

“Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture!” says the Lord. (1)

Shepherds we all are! Shepherds and stewards of his kingdom within us and within those entrusted to us! Each of us baptized into Christ is his sheep and we belong to his pasture! So then, woe to us, if we do not gather ourselves and others into his pasture! The families we live in today, are the sheep entrusted to our care! Then, are we scatterers or gatherers?

“I myself will gather the remnant of my flock out of all the lands where I have driven them, and I will bring them back to their fold, and they shall be fruitful and multiply.” (3)

Even though we are from the flock of God, if today we find ourselves in the minority; we have God’s promise! There is a gathering taking place as we speak, right now! Are we discerning enough to see and heed the directions?

If we desire to gather, we must stop scattering – our thoughts, plans, words, and deeds. We must stop dividing our own minds over trivialities. When our scattered minds come to rest in the Lord, we will be replenished beyond measure! The psalmist vouches for this! Once renewed, our minds are then set free to work on gathering more of ourselves and help others like us too! Amen!

Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 23: 1-3, 3-4, 5, 6

The Textbook for Rejuvenation!

He makes lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside still waters, he restores my soul. (2-3)

When we abide by his Word, we will heed his voice as He leads us to restoration!

Second Reading: Ephesians 2: 13-18

The Master Gatherer!

“For through Christ Jesus, both of us have access in one Spirit to the Father.” (18)

St Paul lays it down very clearly today, speaking directly to us! He, St Paul, and us the gentiles and the ones from the distant lands; have one access! Earlier in this chapter, he clarifies this concept. We once had no hope, without God in the world. (12) Christ is! He lives among us today! Through His Cross, he has brought peace to each one of us here.

While God the Father is gathering us all, back into his fold now! Every human is called to be gathered back! I pray “Oh that today, we would listen to his voice.” Amen!

Gospel: Mark 6: 30-34

Call on the name of JESUS!

The apostles are sharing with Jesus, about their mission. While Jesus sees their labor and says to them “Come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest awhile.” (31) The Lord of all, knows our struggles. That is why when we call out his name, all our weariness, weakness, and sadness; just dissipate! Because there is power in his name itself. He understands the need for us to ‘rest’ and takes us to quiet pools of refreshing waters! If we listen closely, we would hear those streams of living waters bubbling away our anxieties! Faith does! Amen!

And oh yes, though a crowd may still be in want; Christ himself shepherds them even as we rest in Him!

FIFTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

Also Read: Mass Readings for 11 July 2021

First Reading: Amos 7: 12-15

Face your Amaziahs!

Amaziah, the priest of Bethel tells Amos to flee from there and not prophesy against Israel! But Amos responds with the command God gave him – “Go prophecy to my people.” (v.15)

Therefore, even when we are met with strong opposition and sometimes even from highly placed persons; we must remind them and ourselves about God’s command to us! We must not be bogged down by the negativity and accept it! But rather, we must keep reminding ourselves first and remain resolute in our ways.

So, prophecy, we must and when needed use words!

Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 85: 9-14

Hearing means Turning!

“Let me hear what God the Lord will speak, for he will speak peace to his people, to his faithful to those who turn to him in their hearts.”

“Righteousness will go before him and will make a path for his steps.”

When we listen to God’s voice and turn to him in our hearts; He makes a path for us!

Second Reading: Ephesians 1: 3-14

“We -The Co-heirs!”

“In him you also, when you had heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation and had believed in him, were marked with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit; this is the pledge of our inheritance toward redemption as God’s own people, to the praise of His glory.” (v14)

St. Paul is encouraging us here today, as the ones who have heard our Gospel of Salvation and Believed! We have received the Holy Spirit through our baptism and confirmed at our Confirmation! God himself has pledged our redemption and we are the adopted children of God through Jesus Christ!

We have “the forgiveness of our trespasses” (v7) in the passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus. “He has made known to us the mystery of his will” (v9) through the power of the Holy Spirit dwelling within us. We receive Christ, the Word of God, into our very being; every time we receive the Holy Eucharist!

“As a plan for the fullness of time, to gather up all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.” (v10) We know we are currently living in the last days and when we ‘hear’ these words of truth; we are strengthened in our walk! – Because we heard, we believed and we kept to ‘the way’ in steadfastness! Amen!

Gospel: Mark 6: 7-13

Power and Finance Management!

What did Christ allow his chosen, to carry and what were his commands? -Staff, Sandals, and One tunic! -Easy to travel, no baggage therefore no attachments! Staff- Word of God, Sandals – Holy Spirit to protect and to guide their steps! One Tunic- to wear what they had- no more, no less! Putting on the whole armor of God (Eph 6:1-13) and wearing it with pride and reverence! When we work out of pride and reverence for God, we are successful; just as the apostles! They had to depend on God completely for all their basic needs – food, money, and shelter!

“Wherever you enter a house, stay there until you leave the place!” (v10) – Decision making, choices, and commitment! If we decide (under the guidance of the Holy Spirit) on a certain shelter for our stay – we must remain there until we decide to leave the town!! That means when the house dwellers are welcoming; we will know how long deems fit to reside in that town! That house dweller/owner will be the sample of the town’s welcome!

Therefore then, the converse also holds true for the above! So we must quickly “shake off the dust” (of negativity and reproach against us) and leave that town! -“If they refuse to hear you” (v11) We are bound to gather dust on our feet – bondages/ weaknesses to hold us back/down! When we shake the sandals (Our Power of the Holy Spirit within, is activated) as a “testimony”- God is our witness. We bear testimony than to our faith as well as to the power of God within us! Hence, we are well within our rights and possess the authority, to reject the “dust” thrown at us! Do not delay the good work of the Lord!

The question now remains, where have we entered? Have we made some choices/ decisions, that may be holding us captive?

Praise GOD!

FOURTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, Independence Day

Also Read: Mass Readings for 04 July 2021

First Reading: Ezekiel 2: 2-5

“When he spoke to me, a spirit entered into me and set me on my feet; and I heard him speaking to me.” (2)

The message today is loud and clear – To speak the word of God to a rebellious people! -Whether they hear or not!!

Based on this premise, it is not difficult to understand why we face trials, today! The moment anyone tries to walk in the way of the Lord, he/she has to endure hardships and hurdles. But this is what we are called to do because we do not belong to the world. Therefore, we will not conform to this world though we are present here, now. We will be in the constant renewal of our minds. (Rom12:2)

For it is first and foremost our responsibility to walk in true faith. By our lives, we speak louder than any of our speeches! This concept is confirmed even as we read beyond the reading today! Though the words thrown at us may be like thorns and briers (6); we must not be dismayed or afraid. For it is the Lord who asks us to eat of the scroll of lamentations! (Ch.3.3) There is a Reason! The scroll is sweet as honey in my mouth!

Therefore be not afraid Little Children, out on the whole armor of God, in Christ Jesus! Amen!

Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 123: 1-2, 2, 3-4

Our Soul has had more than its fill of the scorn of those who are at ease, of the contempt of the proud. (4) But we have sweetness in our mouth because we look to the hand of God as a maid looks at her mistress. (2)

Praise God!

Second Reading: Second Corinthians 12: 7-10

The Great Paradox

“My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.” (8)

“Therefore I am content with weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.” (9)

“Therefore I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities for the sake of Christ; for whenever I am weak, then I am strong.” (10)

The greatest paradox of our Faith: “For whenever I am weak, then I am strong!” This is only possible if we live in Christ! That “messenger of Satan”(7) is a very present one for us, practicing Catholics today!! How often do we struggle first with our own doubts, fears, worries, lack of faith, lack of discretion et al? Then, adding to that there might be certain messengers from outside who suddenly appear with their thorns and briers. Well, this too is a very present problem for us today! These messengers could land surprisingly at our doorsteps or they might already be covertly living around us! Strange and scary!

But as we read today, there is no need to fear! Because: “Greater is he that is in me than the one in the world!” St. Paul testified earlier to us! So then, the Greatest Paradox of our lives in Faith bears absolutely True! Therefore we rejoice, Praise God! Amen!

Gospel: Mark 6: 1-6

Then Jesus said to them, “Prophets are not without honor, except in their hometown and among their own kin, and in their own house.” (4)

The Son of God was not respected in his own hometown!! Christ Jesus himself faced those messengers of satan, in his own life here on earth! And HE showed us the Way!

He did perform cures but “he could do no deed of power there” (5)

We are today placed in various positions and given varied responsibilities! We know all of this has a purpose! Then, if we are to face difficult situations in a Godly manner; we ought to submit to His ways! Christ did confront those “brood of vipers” too! But only in His time and place! Therefore, when we go to Him first and seek His Wisdom in all our endeavors we ought to find the solution to every problem, hurdle, or attack! Faith moves those mountains and loosens those little ribbons of stress and anxieties we tie around our own souls and spirits! -Quite ignorantly and unnecessarily!

“And he was amazed at their unbelief.” (6)

Jesus Christ would no deed of Power there, He left them at it! -Because of their unbelief! We are to proclaim His word at all times. It must be reciprocated by the others in a similar fashion or else we too can leave it to The LORD!

Amen! May we all have Peace and Conviction to proceed on our Faith Journey! Amen!