Let us welcome the Word that brings us together around Jesus, our shepherd.

 

Let us welcome the Word that brings us together around Jesus, our shepherd. With compassion he guides our lives, pointing out the path to true peace, which overcomes all types of speech and practices that promote division.

Responsorial Psalm: 22(23)

The Lord is the shepherd who leads me: / happiness and all good will follow me!

1. The Lord is the shepherd who leads me; / I don't lack anything. / Through the green meadows and meadows / he takes me to rest. / To the restful waters he guides me / and restores my strength. – R.

2. He guides me on the safest path, / for the honor of his name. / Even if I pass through the dark valley, / I will fear no evil; / you are with me with rod and with staff; / they give me security! – R.

3. You prepare a table in front of me, / in full view of the enemy, / and with oil you anoint my head; / my cup overflows. – R.

4. Happiness and every good thing will follow me / throughout my life; / and in the house of the Lord I will dwell / for infinite times. – R.

Second Reading: Ephesians 2:13-18

Reading of Saint Paul's letter to the Ephesians - Brothers, 13now, in Jesus Christ, you who were once far away have become close through the blood of Christ. 14He, indeed, is our peace: out of what he was divided, he has made unity. In his flesh he destroyed the wall of separation: enmity. 15He abolished the Law with his commandments and decrees. He wanted, therefore, from the Jew and the pagan, to create in himself a single new man, establishing peace. 16I he wanted to reconcile them to God, both in one body, through the cross; thus he destroyed in himself the enemy. 17He came to proclaim peace to you who were far away, and peace to those who were near. 18It is thanks to him that we, in one Spirit, have access to the Father. – Word of the Lord.

Gospel: Mark 6,30-34

Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah.

My sheep hear my voice, / they listen to my voice. / I then knew my sheep, / who followed me, walking with me (John 10:27). – R.

Proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Mark – At that time, 30 the apostles met with Jesus and told him everything they had done and taught. 31He said to them, “Come alone to a deserted place and rest a while.” There were, in fact, so many people coming and going that they didn't even have time to eat. 32So they went alone in a boat to a deserted and remote place. 33Many saw them leave and recognized it was them. Leaving all the cities, they ran on foot and arrived there before them. 34When Jesus disembarked, he saw a large crowd and felt compassion, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began to teach them many things. - Word of salvation.

Reflection:

Once the mission is complete, the apostles gather around Jesus for a complete evaluation. This practice will be carried out by primitive Christian communities. The missionaries return to the point from which they began, in order to narrate the wonders they had performed by the power of the Holy Spirit (cf. Acts 14:27-28). To the apostles, who return after intense work, Jesus invites them to rest for a while in a quiet environment. It was nothing more than a proposal and a desire, as many people rushed to where Jesus and his disciples were. What they wanted was written all over their faces: “they were like sheep without a shepherd”. Without wasting time, Jesus immediately began teaching them many things. It is important to find a balance between the many pastoral tasks and the need for physical and spiritual replenishment.