First reading Hebrews 13:15-17,20-21
May God turn us all into whatever is acceptable to himself through Jesus Christ
Through Christ, let us offer God an unending sacrifice of praise, a verbal sacrifice that is offered every time we acknowledge his name. Keep doing good works and sharing your resources, for these are sacrifices that please God.
Obey your leaders and do as they tell you, because they must give an account of the way they look after your souls; make this a joy for them to do, and not a grief – you yourselves would be the losers. I pray that the God of peace, who brought our Lord Jesus back from the dead to become the great Shepherd of the sheep by the blood that sealed an eternal covenant, may make you ready to do his will in any kind of good action; and turn us all into whatever is acceptable to himself through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever, Amen.
Responsorial Psalm 22(23)
The Lord is my shepherd: there is nothing I shall want.
The Lord is my shepherd;
there is nothing I shall want.
Fresh and green are the pastures
where he gives me repose.
Near restful waters he leads me,
to revive my drooping spirit.
He guides me along the right path;
he is true to his name.
If I should walk in the valley of darkness
no evil would I fear.
You are there with your crook and your staff;
with these you give me comfort.
You have prepared a banquet for me
in the sight of my foes.
My head you have anointed with oil;
my cup is overflowing.
Surely goodness and kindness shall follow me
all the days of my life.
In the Lord’s own house shall I dwell
for ever and ever.
Gospel Mark 6:30-34
They were like sheep without a shepherd
The apostles rejoined Jesus and told him all they had done and taught. Then he said to them, ‘You must come away to some lonely place all by yourselves and rest for a while’; for there were so many coming and going that the apostles had no time even to eat. So they went off in a boat to a lonely place where they could be by themselves. But people saw them going, and many could guess where; and from every town they all hurried to the place on foot and reached it before them. So as he stepped ashore he saw a large crowd; and he took pity on them because they were like sheep without a shepherd, and he set himself to teach them at some length.
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Being with Jesus and others
“Come away to some lonely place all by yourselves and rest for a while…”. In this time of prayer, Jesus calls us to be with Him and to find rest in His presence without needing to do anything. This is because being with Jesus is vital to our life of faith.
“So as he stepped ashore he saw a large crowd; and he took pity on them because they were like sheep without a shepherd, and he set himself to teach them at some length”. Jesus’ plan for rest was interrupted by the crowd needing Him. However, He responded to them, not with annoyance but with compassion. Let us learn from Jesus to look at others around us with eyes of compassion and be present to them as Jesus did with the people who went to Him.
Reflective question:
From being with Jesus the Sheperd, I am called to serve others with compassion. Do I see the need to be with Jesus and find rest in Him?
From being with Jesus the Sheperd, I am called to serve others with compassion. Do I see the need to be with Jesus and find rest in Him?
Acknowledgment: Reflections are based on “Prayer for Living: The Word of God for Daily Prayer Year A” by Sr Sandra Seow FMVD.
