A True Shepherd is Compassionate

 

Christ is our Peace

Reflection on Today’s Readings, 16th Sunday of Ordinary Time, Year B, July 21st, 2024
Texts: Jeremiah 23:1-6; Psalm 23:1-6; Ephesians 2:13-18; Mark 6:30-34 

                                A True Shepherd is Compassionate

Jesus Christ describes the people of His time as people without a shepherd. In today’s first reading, God condemns shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep. This emphasises the importance of a shepherd. Then, who is a shepherd? I’m a shepherd as a priest, you are shepherds as parents. In any status you are to provide leadership you are shepherds. Being an elder you are a shepherd. Being seniors in school or workplace, you are shepherds.  

Today’s liturgical readings reveal Jesus Christ as a true shepherd; He is an epitome of who shepherds should be. God promised in the words of prophet Jeremiah that He would sent a shepherd to His people. The shepherd will gather the people together.  

We read, “Then I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all the countries where I have driven them, and I will bring them back to their fold, and they shall be fruitful and multiply. I will set shepherds over them who will care for them, and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall any be missing, says the  Lord.” 

The fulfilment of the the promise of a shepherd

Today’s gospel reading reveals Jesus Christ as the promised shepherd. This is clear as He filled the role of shepherd which the people lacked. We read: “As he (Jesus) went ashore he saw a great throng, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things.” Jesus Christ fulfils the promise of God in the words of prophet Jeremiah. God promised to send a shepherd who will fill in the office shepherd, which His people lacked. 

St. Paul also reveals, in the second reading, that Jesus Christ is the true shepherd. He says, “Now in Christ  Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near in the blood of Christ.”  He did not only unite us with one another, He also unite us with God. We read, “through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father.” He takes away the hostility between man and man and between man and God. 

His death is a seal

He achieved this for us by His passion and death. His death is the seal that His message of peace is nothing but the truth. He abolished every practice that divides man and subjugates him. In his words: “For he is our peace, who has made us both one, and has broken down the dividing wall of hostility, by abolishing in his flesh the law of commandments and ordinances”. 

We see in Jesus Christ, today, a virtue a shepherd must have to be true and successful. The virtue is compassion. A true shepherd is compassionate. Hence, it is said of Jesus Christ thus: “he had compassion on them”. When a shepherd loses compassion, he can no longer bring the sheep together. The shepherd that God condemns are those who do not have compassion. 

A true shepherd is compassionate

When a shepherd is compassionate, he will not be corrupt or selfish. Jesus Christ and His apostles needed rest but His compassion prevailed over His personal need. It is compassion that makes us realise when other person’s need require attention over our need. A shepherd who could not realise that the need of his sheep are better attended to will lose his sheep. Jesus teaches us today that there are situations in which we are to prioritise other person’s  needs over our needs. It is compassion that can make us realise it  and do it. 

Prayer  

Show favour, O Lord, to your servants and mercifully increase the gifts of your grace, that, made fervent in hope, faith and charity, they may be ever watchful in keeping your commands. Amen (Collect) 

Fr. Andrew Olowomuke