Opening Prayer:
(paraphrase of Psalm 23)
The good shepherd takes care of all my needs.
He leads me to lush green meadows and crystal clear pools.
He guides and protects me and I grow strong in his care.
When night falls, I am not afraid, for he is always beside me
to protect me from harm.
When he calls, I will follow, knowing that his love for me
will last forever
AMEN
Gospel Reading:
Mark 6: 30-34 “The Shepherd and his flock”
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.
Discussion:
In today’s gospel, wherever Jesus travelled, news would soon reach the local people, and it was not long before there would be a crowd of people flocked around him. The apostles were tired after their journeys and eager to spend time telling Jesus about everything that had happened. But Jesus was surrounded by people who wanted his attention.
Jesus suggested they sail off to find some peace and quiet, but things didn’t go quite as planned. So what did they find when they moored their boat? ( moored means to attach a boat to an anchor or rope) Well, people had guessed their plan and when the apostles and Jesus arrived , there was a crowd already gathered. Jesus did not grow impatient or angry. This is because He felt a deep sense of love for his followers, and always put their needs before his own.
The Good Shepherd knew that these people were his flock. They relied on him to guide and look after them, just as a good shepherd guides and looks after his sheep. He would never let them down or turn them away.
Closing Prayer:
The good shepherd takes care of all my needs.
He leads me to lush green meadows and crystal clear pools.
He guides and protects me and I grow strong in his care.
When night falls, I am not afraid, for he is always beside me
to protect me from harm.
When he calls, I will follow, knowing that his love for me
will last forever.
AMEN