By Fr. Antony Christy, SDB –
July 22, 2018: 16th Sunday in Ordinary time
Jer 23: 1-6; Eph 2: 13-18; Mk 6: 30-34
Take a look at the scenario today – at the so-called shepherds, the leaders all around us! There are some who are special but they do not stand out as much as the other usual ones, the usual ones who are treacherous, fending for their own good, thinking about nothing other than themselves, ready to sacrifice anything or anyone to attain the goals that they have set for themselves which would serve them and them alone, twisting and twirling their words, having their own definitions for virtues, doing all they can to have and to retain power unto themselves, oblivious of the struggles of the least, using others as stepping stones and ready to trample upon anyone for the sake of their ascent! These are the shepherds of our times. The sad fact is, this does not happen only in the socio-political milieu today but even in the spiritual world!
It is against this background that the readings of today make a great sense to us! They present to us a Shepherd par excellence, a Shepherd for our times – the times that speak of 4G – yes, a 4G Shepherd. We would do well to look at the way the Lord leads us in contrast to the life of the so-called leaders of today. The aim is not to judge these leaders, but to learn from the Lord and to form ourselves to be the Shepherd’s true flock, true followers and true apostles!
While the power conscious of today seek to divide people, stratify them and polarise them to gain their own benefits, the True Shepherd GATHERS all. The first reading and the second underline this grace that the Lord brings us – the grace of unity and peace! Yes, this is the sign of the True Shepherd. Gathering the remnant, gathering the different people, gathering all into one is the task that Jesus took upon himself – to gather everyone, to reconcile everything in God! We are called to be persons who gather, not divide, not polarise, not scatter.
While the self-centred generation of today thinks about oneself and one’s own possessions, growing evermore avaricious and insensitive to others, the True Shepherd GIVES himself to us. Paul’s central message has always been that: that Christ gave himself up that we may be brought to the state of being children of God. Endless greed and craze for pleasure blind the generations of today and we cannot belong to the flock of the True Shepherd if we follow the trend. We need to stand up for truth, stand out in our choices and some times even stand alone, and be ready to give of ourselves to stand for the good and for God.
While the grief struck mentality of the world is all the time striving and chasing after the comforts and in the meanwhile accumulating grief and depression, the True Shepherd GLADDENS the spirits of those who come to him. Come to me, rest in me, learn from me, be nourished of me, grow in me and become like me, calls the Lord today. The Shepherd knows the struggle that we are involved in, the problems and pains that we are facing on a daily basis – that is why he tells us today: Come apart and rest a while!
While the craving to dominate others becomes the force that moves persons to action today, the True Shepherd, who has the entire universe under his command, GOVERNS us with love, a love that is sensitive, a love that is delicate, a love that is selfless, a love that is ever-giving, a love that reaches out, a love that works marvels for our good and not for its own glory…a love that is God. That is the principle that governs the entire reality, the principle that is the foundation of everything that is good or godly: the principle of LOVE, which has to characterise the life of every one in this flock. The call is to receive this love from its source, the Lord, the True Shepherd and grow in it, and learn to give it to all, little by little!
Fr Antony Christy is a Salesian Priest from 2005, who has a Masters in Philosophy (specialisation in Religion) and a Masters in Theology (Specialisation in Catechetics). He is currently pursuing his doctoral research in Theology at Salesian Pontifical University, Rome. Walking with the Young towards a World of Peace and Dialogue is the passion that fires him on.