​Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Year B - Sunday, July 18, 2021 (EPISODE: 311)

 Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Year B  - Sunday, July 18, 2021

(EPISODE: 311)

Readings for Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Year B
FIRST READING: Jer 23: 1-6
Ps 23: 1-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6. "The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want."
SECOND READING: Eph 2: 13-18
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION (John 10: 27). Alleluia, alleluia! My sheep listen to my voice, says the Lord. I know them, and they follow me.
GOSPEL: Mark 6: 30-34

Shutterstock licensed image ID:1140627950- Biblical vector illustration of Jesus as a shepherd- By rudall30
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Please listen to the audio recordings of the Mass – (Readings, prayers and homily), for Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Year B  - Sunday, July 18, 2021, by clicking this link here: https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/faith-hope-and-love-ordinary-16b-episode-311  
(EPISODE: 311)
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(Homily:  Fr Paul Kelly ).
"He had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd."
 
There is a beautiful line in the second reading that one could spend the whole week, a whole lifetime contemplating the meaning of:
 "Jesus is our peace, he who made both one and broke down the dividing wall ........, through his flesh, abolishing the law with its commandments and legal claims, that he might create in himself one new person in place of the two, thus establishing peace." 
 
This is really fascinating...
So, peace is not just a state of mind or body...,
And Reconciliation and forgiveness is not just something we do or do not do......
"Peace" is actually a person,
"Forgiveness" is a person,
...and that person is Jesus, who is the Lord of Peace, the Prince of forgiveness...
 
The writer and poet Alice Camille, tells of an incident in her life that brought this personal dimension of peace, home to her. She writes:
 
"There was no way I was going to speak to that guy who offended me again. NO WAY!!! I repeated this mantra several times to fortify my resolve. I was outraged. I was hurting. As I rehearsed for the twentieth time the righteousness of my position against my enemy who had offended me. Then I remembered, peace wasn't something that was mine to give or deny. Jesus is our peace. Jesus is the WAY of peace... unity with him is unity with peace and reconciliation. To withhold reconciliation is to withhold Christ and what Christ can do..."
 
The balance between reflection and action, prayer and good works, work and rest, comes into focus in this weekend's Gospel. It is often hard to get this balance right in our lives. So many demands on our time, many good projects that can be called on us, and so the balance of work/rest, prayer/action is quite challenging. Jesus knew this balance and he responded and was flexible and even changed his plans when situations unexpectedly arose, but at the same time, there is a deep sense about Jesus that he kept that balance within his heart and was able to be peaceful and loving in his response, despite the many demands.
 
Jesus knew the benefit of taking some time to get away from it all and revive, rest, pray and have time to nourish ourselves, in body, spirit and mind. 
 
He showed that care for himself and his disciples, (even in the midst of the heavy demands of his ministry), and whilst facing the crushing needs of countless people who came to see him, hear him and touch him.
 
Among the natural benefits of taking some time out: namely renewal and physical and spiritual recuperation, there is also a valuable chance to 'stop, take a breath and look at where we are, where we are heading and what we are trying to achieve."
 
If we constantly respond to the urgent… we may miss getting a chance to weigh up whether it is also 'important.'  Something can be urgent, but not necessarily important.  And some of the most important things in life may never present themselves to us as "urgent" but (if neglected) these needs could cause major difficulties and even cause us to lose sight of the things that really matter. 
 
Also, we believe that our God can be encountered in silence and stillness. And so we MUST make time for that silence and stillness.
 
I am impressed by a quote from Saint Teresa which says "Settle yourself in solitude… and you will come upon him in yourself."
 
Another really striking thing about today's gospel passage is that, although Jesus knew he needed to get away from it all and give himself and his disciples time to rest and pray and gain renewal and focus.  With this in mind, his attitude towards the needy crowds when he saw them is really inspiring. He gets to the place he was heading for a well-deserved rest; only to find the crowds have found their way here too!!!
 
We could be forgiven in some way if in exasperation we reacted in similar situations by saying… "Oh please, give me a break! Go away. I am too tired. Leave me alone!" But, of course, Jesus' reaction is that of so many parents and carers who are faced with the all too real needs of their beloved. It is a response of love and deep compassion and inclusion.  He understood them. He knew their needs and could see into their hearts.  
 
He did not see the crowds as if they were nothing to do with him. They were never just people he spoke to and taught but had no connection with. These needy people - these crowds were not disconnected from him. He identified himself with the people who were there, like a parent to a child; as a spouse to their beloved. This was not a case of "them and us" when it came to relating to the crowd.

Jesus' compassionate reaction to the crowd was because, although he was not denying his needs and his disciple's needs for rest and prayer and reflection; when he came across the crowds he recognized their needs as also important.   This is such an important key.  All of these needs are important. No doubt. 
 
So … for Jesus, it was always a case of "not them and us" but "us and us." His needs and the needs of the disciples were as important as the needs of the crowds and the crowd's needs and were as real and important to him as his own. He kept that in his mind and heart. And his response reflected that. He solved the slightly conflicting needs by responding in compassion to the lost and desperate needs of those he encountered…
 
 I am sure he then went off and gave himself and his disciples the space they needed……. afterwards.
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References:

Homily –Prologue - Fr Paul W. Kelly

Quote from Alice L. Camille. Reflection in  PrepareTheWord.com. - PrepareTheWord.com, ©2012, TrueQuest Communications, LLC.}


Shutterstock licensed image ID:1140627950- Biblical vector illustration of Jesus as a shepherd- By rudall30


Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Year B   (Sunday, July 18, 2021)  (EPISODE: 311)
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. (or/ The Lord be with You)
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{{May Our Lord's care, comfort you}} welcome everyone, we gather -  To take time to reflect upon the meaning of God's word for our everyday lives

Brothers and sisters, as we prepare ourselves to celebrate the Lord's supper, let us recall our sins and acknowledge them in silence. 

Lord Jesus, you raise us to new life: Lord, have mercy// //Lord Jesus, you forgive us our sins: Christ, have mercy//Lord Jesus, you feed us with your body and blood: Lord, have mercy//

May Almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and bring us to everlasting life.  Amen.
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Memorial Acclamation
1. We proclaim your Death, O Lord, and profess your Resurrection until you come again.
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Ps 23: 1-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6. "The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want."

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION (John 10: 27). Alleluia, alleluia! My sheep listen to my voice, says the Lord. I know them, and they follow me.
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PREFACE: Sundays III
EP II
(theme variation: 2 )

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{Thanks everyone, and have a grace-filled and compassion-filled week. }

Go and announce the Gospel of the Lord.

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Archive of homilies and reflections:  http://homilycatholic.blogspot.com.au
To contact Fr. Paul, please email:  paulwkelly68@gmail.com

To listen to our weekly homily audio podcast, please click this link here:  https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/tracks

You are welcome to subscribe to Fr Paul's homily mail-out by sending an email to this address: paulkellyreflections+subscribe@googlegroups.com

Further information relating to the audio productions linked to this Blog:
"Faith, Hope and Love - Christian worship and reflection"  - Led by Rev Paul Kelly

Prayers and chants  — Roman Missal, 3rd edition, © 2010, The International Commission on English in the liturgy. (ICEL)

Scriptures - New Revised Standard Version: © 1989,  and 2009 by the NCC-USA. (National Council of Churches of Christ - USA)

"The Psalms" ©1963, 2009,  The Grail - Collins publishers.

Prayers of the Faithful -   " Together we pray" by Robert Borg'.   E.J. Dwyer, Publishers, (1993) . (Sydney Australia).

Sung "Mass In Honour of St. Ralph Sherwin" -  By Jeffrey M. Ostrowski. The Gloria, Copyright © 2011 ccwatershed.org.

- "Faith, Hope and Love" theme hymn - in memory of William John (Bill) Kelly (1942-2017) -  Inspired by 1 Corinthians 13:1-13. Music by Paul W. Kelly. Arranged and sung, with additional lyrics by Stefan Kelk. 2019.

"Quiet Time."  Instrumental Reflection music. Written by Paul W Kelly. 1988, 2007. & This arrangement: Stefan Kelk, 2020.

- "Today I Arise" - For Trisha J Kelly.  Original words and music by Paul W. Kelly. Inspired by St Patrick's Prayer.  Arranged and sung, with additional lyrics by Stefan Kelk. 2019.

Sound Engineering and editing -  P.W. Kelly.
Microphones: -                        
Shure Motiv MV5 Digital Condenser.

Editing equipment:    NCH software - MixPad Multitrack Studio Recording Software

NCH – WavePad Audio Editing Software. Masters Edition v 12.44

Sound Processing:  iZotope RX 6 Audio Editor

[ Production -  KER -  2021]

May God bless and keep you.
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