Gospel: July 21, 2024

(Sunday)

16th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Psalter: Week 4 / (Green)

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 23: 1-3, 3-4, 5, 6 (1)

The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.

1st Reading: Jeremiah 23: 1-6

2nd Reading: Ephesians 2: 13-18

Gospel: Mark 6: 30-34

The apostles returned and reported to Jesus all they had done and taught. Then he said to them, “Go off by yourselves to a remote place and have some rest.” For there were so many people coming and going that the apostles had no time even to eat. And they went away in the boat to a secluded area by themselves.

But people saw them leaving and many could guess where they were going. So, from all the towns they hurried there on foot, arriving ahead of them.

As Jesus went ashore, he saw a large crowd, and he had compassion on them for they were like sheep without a shepherd. And he began to teach them many things.

Lectio Divina:

Read: The disciples returned from their mission. They reported to Jesus all that they had done and taught. Jesus invited his disciples to go off into a remote place so that they could rest. Jesus knew that the apostles did not even have time to eat because they were attending to the needs of many people.

However, many people still followed them and some even arrived in the place on foot ahead of them. When Jesus was coming ashore, he saw a huge crowd. He had compassion on them for they were like sheep without a shepherd. Jesu taught them many things.

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Reflect: The human Jesus was aware of the human limitations of attending to other people’s need. He knew that his disciples also needed some rest. The disciples had returned from their mission. Jesus planned together with his disciples to find a place where they could get some rest and recreation. The plan was for them to rest.

But some even arrived ahead of them in the place where they were heading. There was a big crowd gathered in the place. Jesus had compassion with them so He taught them, perhaps having forgone the plan to rest. Jesus and the disciples must have discerned that there was an immediate need before them and that they could not simply close their eyes and turn their backs from the people who needed them.

Pray: We pray that God make us more compassionate.

Act: After attending the Eucharist today, let us do one compassionate act.