Word to the Wise
Sunday, July 22, 2012 - 16th Sunday in Ordinary Time - B
[Jer 23:1-6; Eph 2:13-18; Mark 6:30-34]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. [Mark]
As I write this reflection, I am at a retreat center to preach a retreat for Permanent Deacons (and candidates) of a diocese in Louisiana. During an informal question and answer session, I was asked, on the basis of my itinerant preaching, how I experienced the reception of permanent deacons around the country and what I considered to be the future of this role in the church! Those are big questions, but I mention them as part of the prominent image in the first and third scriptures for today: the shepherd! Permanent Deacons share in the role of shepherd in the church, and this retreat is aimed at helping them to be more loving and effective shepherds!
Jeremiah has some very pungent things to say about those who were in positions of religious leadership in his day. For the most part these shepherds would have been kings and priests. The prophet Ezekiel does the same. (ch. 34) When I read these passages, I tremble because I know that I am a less than perfect shepherd. Nevertheless, the prophetic criticisms underline the importance of the role of shepherd. Today's gospel shows Jesus' taking pity on the crowds before him because they seemed lost and without a shepherd. In the Gospel of John (ch. 10) we read of the role of the "good shepherd." In Pslam 23, we see those familiar words, "The Lord is my shepherd..."
In our church, the bishops seem to get all the attention as "shepherds," but they know better than anyone else that it is the "lesser" figures - priests, deacons and commissioned Lay Ministers who do the day to day work of taking care of the flock. The Permanent Deacons and candidates on this retreat need encouragement. Their role is relatively new since it was "restored" by the Second Vatican Council only about 50 years ago. They need our support and encouragement and our positive suggestions and input on how they can be more effective "shepherds." In this, the People of God do not have to be like "real" sheep who seem dumb and passive! All of us, shepherds and flock alike, need to remember that line from the 23rd Psalm: "The LORD is my shepherd..." and live and minister accordingly. AMEN
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