Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

You are my shepherd. I know no other. I follow no other. I am your useless servant. I am your sheep. To call myself such words does me no harm. I am not left disparaged or degraded by such truths. On the contrary, to be your sheep is to walk through this life with eyes of wonder and joy. And to be your useless servant is to know that I can never fail you, never disappointment you. You guide me, guard me, and love me. There is truly nothing for which I want. Alleluia, alleluia.

Jeremiah 23:1-6; Psalms 23:1-6; Ephesians 2:13-18; Mark 6:30-34

Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Jeremiah 23:1-6; Psalms 23:1-6; Mark 6:30-34

Who is your shepherd? There are so many to choose from today, especially here on the internet. With this vast jumble of voices, it is easy to see how the flock has become scattered. It is time to tune them out, all of them, so that you can listen to the One that really matters; the One so deep within life that it sounds like a mere whisper; the One so powerful that when you do hear it, it feels like the sun itself is exploding inside of you. "The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want."

Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Jeremiah 23: 1-6; Psalm 23: 1-6; Mark 6: 30-34

The metaphors of sheep and shepherd can be helpful in understanding our nature, and that of our relationship with the Divine. We are creatures whose knowledge is limited. We can lose our way easily, and are always in need of guidance. The idea that God, and most especially Jesus, is the "Good Shepherd" leading us to paradise is so powerful, because it resonates in the core of our being. How could we get there without them? But there is danger in these metaphors as well. They can give us a sort of permission to abandon free will, and let others dictate our thoughts and actions. We must always evaluate potential shepherds with Jeremiah's words in mind, no matter their credentials. Where will they lead us? Never forget that metaphors are not reality. We are not sheep, but human beings, created in the image of our Divine Parent. Let us never aspire to be anything less.