16^TH SUNDAY, YEAR B: HOMILY BY FR. JUSTIN ADIELE

THEME: “SENT TOGATHER AND NOT TO SCATTER”

INTRODUCTION:

Last Sunday we talked about the calling and sending of the Apostles to bring Christ, healing and the gospel message to the people; a mission we all share in various degrees as baptized Christians. And we cannot be available and yet God would still be searching for those who would take care of the physical and spiritual direction of his people. Today, we shall access our missionary success as shepherds and as Christians by the parameter of peaceful gathering of the faithful wherever we are or have worked.

THE FIRST READING (JER. 23: 1 – 6)

The first reading was a stern warning against shepherds or even Christians who scatter or who have been instrumental to the destruction and scattering of God’s sheep. This is accounted as evil in the sight of the Lord. Again, we must not on account of our carelessness, carefreeness, selfishness or idleness cost God his flock, and keep God always looking for faithful shepherds who will wisely, justly, righteously and generously care for his sheep.

THE SECOND READING (EPH. 2: 13 – 18)

In the second reading, St. Paul once more involved all the baptized, and all the brethren in Christ Jesus in the business of gathering and preserving the peace and unity of the flock won by the Cross of Christ. Christ has abolished every division and hostilities amongst people; every good shepherd or Christian must be an instrument of reconciliation, peace and oneness and not discord.

THE GOSPEL READING (MK. 6: 30 – 34)

In the gospel reading, the twelve Apostles returned from the mission Christ sent them, giving account/testimony of all that they have done. While they were still talking, evidence/result of their missionary success began to manifest. People from the various places where they have worked kept gathering in their numbers that they could not find time to eat or rest.

CONCLUSION:

As shepherds and as Christians, the people we gather for Christ are important parameter of our success. How many people have you gathered for God? How many gatherings have you kept together intact for God? How many come or stay because you are involved? How many deserted the flock of Christ because of you? It is our love, our care, our concern, our compassion and sacrifice for the sheep that keep them around the sheepfold of Christ. But our hatred, selfishness, hurtful words and lack of compassion drive them away. Today, being sent to gather for Christ, we must ensure that at least, no one of Christ’s already gathered flock, goes missing or scattered on account of our unkindness, unkind words, unkind treatments, negligence and lack of love and compassion for them.

Happy Sunday!

Fr. Justin

 16th Sunday, Year B: Homily by Fr Isaac Chima

Theme: Message to all shepherds of God’s flock

Reading: Jer 23:1-6; Eph 2:13-18; Mk 6:30-34

Dear friends in Christ, on this sixteenth Sunday of the year, the Church has a message for all shepherds of the flock of God. But the question we should ask is: who are the shepherds of God’s flock or shepherds of God’s children?

The shepherds of the children of God in the Church are the priests and all those who preach or teach the word of God in the church. Then, the shepherds of God’s children in the families are the parents, grandparents, uncles and aunties, and all those under whose care children grow up in the family. Therefore, today’s message to shepherds touches both the shepherds in the church and those in the families.

In the first place, we thank shepherds who bring up God’s children according to the will of God, those who guide and feed God’s children with what God intended so that they will not be lost. However, the rate at which many children are growing up with little or no faith in God and lack of good moral behaviour in the society calls for proper examination on how well the shepherds of our time are doing their duties. In today’s gospel, our Lord Jesus looked at the people of Israel that followed Him and said they were like sheep without a shepherd.

Indeed, there is no better way to describe the condition of many youths of our time than to say that they are living as if they never had shepherds in their lives; many of them lack the capacity to distinguish between what is good and what is bad, and as a result, they swing from one erroneous ideology about life to another; many of them lack good moral values and care less about holy life, respect for people, and family or societal values; many of them have shallow faith in God, little or no respect for God and prayer life, and for that reason, they don't care about attending Masses on Sundays and see nothing wrong about it.

The religious and social life of many youths raise doubts about how serious their shepherds were with their training/upbringing. One thing that is certain is that shepherds who do not train their children in good moral and spiritual life will regret it as their children grow into adults, because youths who do not respect God and other people will not respect their parents too.

In the first reading of today, God warned all the shepherds who have failed in their duties of taking good care of the sheep entrusted to them, and the shepherds who are still failing in their responsibilities to give good upbringing to their children and wards. He said He will treat them according to their deeds. Then, He promised that He will send a shepherd that will give them the care they need. Dear friends, this is a warning to all of us to be very careful with the kind of formation we give to our children. If we do not form them well, we will attract the anger and punishment of God. In fact, God will judge us according to the kind of formation we gave to our children.

In the gospel of today, we saw this shepherd sent by God, Jesus Christ, tending to the sheep that have been scattered by those who were supposed to be their shepherds, and also showing us one of the qualities of a good shepherd. Jesus was heading to a place to rest his head, but when He saw the helpless people, he had compassion on them and sacrificed His comfort to make sure He lifted them from their misery. A good shepherd in the church and in the family must be compassionate in his relationship with those entrusted to his care and must sacrifice his comfort, must give his all, for the good of the sheep. He must be close to the sheep so that he can know them and provide their needs even at the expense of his own comfort. We must provide the material, spiritual and moral needs of our children, even when doing so will lead to insults and misunderstanding from the people.

Finally, the second reading of today showed us another quality of the Good Shepherd, which is that of restoring what has been damaged by wicked shepherds. Wicked shepherds created enmity between God’s people, but Jesus, our Good Shepherd, restored peace between them with His death. So, good shepherds of God’s children have the duty of restoring/correcting what has been damaged in the life of their children by the secular society; they have the duty to fish out the wrong teachings that society has imparted on their children and correct/fix them for the good of their families.  

Happy Sunday, dear friends

Fr Isaac Chima

 16^TH SUNDAY, YEAR B: REFLECTION BY FR. JULIAN EKEH

THEME: FULFILMENT: FINDING REST IN THE WORK

(Mark 6:30-34)

The Gospel of today presents to us the apostle's return after the mission they were sent to do. 

The sensitive saviour observed how exhausted they were even though they were filled with joy. He wished to call them away from the crowd. He wanted to give them a special treat. He thought of the best place for them to get the relaxation they needed at the moment. He would have loved to give them some timeout. They arranged for the place, but the omniscient Jesus must have known what awaits. It became an opportunity to teach them the 'post-apostolic' work lessons. He had given them the 'pre-apostolic' work lectures before their departure. Now, at this reunion He teaches them that it is not over. There is no holiday in being good. There is no rest in the work of God. When one ends, another begins. In these works, you will find your rest.

 

HOW IT HAPPENED

They went away in the boat to a lonely place by themselves. Many saw them going and knew them, and they ran on foot and got there before them.

In a world where only money, celebrations, shows, and powers are valued, Jesus is telling us that what we have to offer apart from these is also most valued. People will rush after you. Your services will be needed someday. You must be noticed. You won't even be able to hide when you want to. You will never stop shining. You can't stay out of reach of Divine network and the connection of Grace and favour. People will come to you. You will be sought for one day.

You may not be happy with your output initially. You may not know the light you carry. You may think that the anointing is finished.  God will send people to you to teach them lessons of life and to give you more reasons to keep trusting and working for Him.

The blessings of the Lord for you will not stop flowing child of God.

Have you returned after the day's labour, your business, your office work, not seeing any much results?  Talk to Jesus and follow Him to the place of rest, the place where you will find fulfilment for your work. You may think it will still be the same story, even with that last strength push on with God. Give in more time, touch more lives, and you will not regret it.

 

BEGIN ALL OVER: DO IT THIS TIME WITH COMPASSION

It is now obvious to the apostles that they can't find that type of rest they longed for. They can't rest away from God and the unfinished work of God in their hands. Then Jesus turned their attention to an action word called: 'compassion'. They just returned from the work they did as a mandate. He now wants them to realize that outside their normal office, apart from their stipulated time for duties, they are still expected to use their time for leisure for God.

 

Everyone prays for Friday and thanks God when it is Friday so that 'ngwori' (Enjoyment) will begin. At this time, Jesus turns our eyes to the many people out there who labour all through for nothing and wants us to think of how to incorporate them, to gather them like sheep.

It could be your siesta time as a medical doctor, a nurse, or a priest.  Jesus tells you to feel sympathy and empathize still for that person in the emergency ward, in a problem at your rest time. He is like sheep without a Shepherd. If you starve him of your care, he may die.

You may be wearied with the daily activity you do as a husband or wife, but our Lord Jesus is saying turn please to the complaints of your little children, if you abandon them like sheep without a Shepherd they will be starved of home training.

At the weakest moment of your life as a human being God gives you the grace to make some sacrifices for Him with the heart of compassion to the people around you who look up to you as sheep, be their shepherd then.

 

BE THE LESSON

The Gospel ended with these words: "He began to teach them many things."

The meaning here is a very deep one. Jesus taught them many lessons. Yes! They were very desperate when they looked for Jesus. Their desperation will not allow them to think straight as to understand that Jesus needed rest and a timeout with His disciples.

They would have really not blamed Jesus so much if He had turned them down. But when Jesus with His disciples gave them the attention they were seeking and even more they were amazed, they learnt an important lesson therefrom. The Apostles, too, were taught to be more loving and to become teachers and leaders of compassion.

That became the rest. This rest is satisfaction that the people one is working for are happy; that what one was asked to do was carried out well; that there is job satisfaction at the end of the day; that even without any pay one goes home fulfilled; that even without having all the earthly wealth, one is proud of raising God-fearing children despite the weariness and frustrating situations.

Jesus got His satisfaction more than He would have had after partying with His apostles and sleeping or swimming away somewhere.

Can we as shepherds in various sectors of life leave unnecessary jamborees and tend to the sheep in our care with love, care, and compassion? This is how to find the rest we need. May God help us.

 

LET US PRAY

Like the apostles, Oh Lord, we are tired of the various responsibilities under our watch. We are tempted to find excuses to rest away. But thank You for teaching us the lesson of finding joy even while doing our works. May we look for reasons to help others and not reasons to keep away from being of help. Bless us as we pray to find joy in all we do here on earth through Christ our Lord. Amen

Happy Sunday (16th Week, Ordinary Time Yr. B)

Rev Fr Julian O Ekeh