Word Wide Open: The Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (B) - 7/18/21

First Reading (Jeremiah 23:1-6)

A reading from the Book of the Prophet Jeremiah.

Woe to the shepherds

who mislead and scatter the flock of my pasture,

says the LORD. 

Therefore, thus says the LORD, the God of Israel,

against the shepherds who shepherd my people:

You have scattered my sheep and driven them away. 

You have not cared for them,

but I will take care to punish your evil deeds. 

I myself will gather the remnant of my flock

from all the lands to which I have driven them

and bring them back to their meadow;

there they shall increase and multiply. 

I will appoint shepherds for them who will shepherd them

so that they need no longer fear and tremble;

and none shall be missing, says the LORD.

    Behold, the days are coming, says the LORD,

        when I will raise up a righteous shoot to David;

    as king he shall reign and govern wisely,

        he shall do what is just and right in the land.

    In his days Judah shall be saved,

        Israel shall dwell in security.

    This is the name they give him:

        “The LORD our justice.”

The word of the Lord.

Asking the big questions: Is there anything that stuck out to you from this reading? What makes a leader a good leader? How is Jesus the good shepherd?


Second Reading (Ephesians 2:13-18)

A reading from the Letter of St. Paul to the Ephesians.

Brothers and sisters:

In Christ Jesus you who once were far off

have become near by the blood of Christ.

For he is our peace, he who made both one

and broke down the dividing wall of enmity, 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,

and might reconcile both with God,

in one body, through the cross,

putting that enmity to death by it. 

He came and preached peace to you who were far off

and peace to those who were near,

for through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father.

The word of the Lord.

Asking the big questions: Is there anything that stuck out to you from this reading? How does God draw us closer to Himself? How are we reconciled with God?

Gospel (Mark 6:30-34)

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Mark.

The apostles gathered together with Jesus

and reported all they had done and taught. 

He said to them,

“Come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.” 

People were coming and going in great numbers,

and they had no opportunity even to eat. 

So they went off in the boat by themselves to a deserted place. 

People saw them leaving and many came to know about it. 

They hastened there on foot from all the towns

and arrived at the place before them.

When he disembarked and saw the vast crowd,

his heart was moved with pity for them,

for they were like sheep without a shepherd;

and he began to teach them many things.

The Gospel of the Lord.

Asking the big questions: Is there anything that stuck out to you from this Gospel reading? Why is private prayer time so important? How does Jesus how us to love others?