+ Our readings today are about the work of shepherding, being shepherded and vacation,
yes, vacation! So, I suppose it’s the
themes of vocation and vacation [at this
vacation time of the year]! It was the mission of the Apostles to be “peace-brokers”
in the world. They were to bring not just any kind of peace, though; they were
to bring God’s own restorative,
regenerative, life-giving peace paid for and enabled by the
self-sacrificial life and death of God’s own Son, Jesus our Lord.
And so Jesus, while training
his Apostles, teaches them a lesson today about doing the works of God among
the people, but then the necessity of “going on vacation” – “going away by
themselves to a deserted place and resting a while.” This he emphasizes and
demonstrates often by his own example. And while resting in a quiet place, one
can get a better sense of perspective on relationship to God the Father – whose will must ultimately be done; and
the sooner one gets in touch with it, the better! But, even, “while on
vacation” one often sees the “sheep without a shepherd” – people just somehow
seem to instinctively know where to find God’s welcome, God’s grace and God’s
peace! And so, even on vacation, we must all remember our vocation as
ambassadors of Christ, and dispensers of his mysteries!
In the first reading, the Lord
speaks through the Prophet Jeremiah and warns a different kind of shepherd – a
bad shepherd – who has specious motives and self-serving interests – woe to you, he says, I will take care to punish your evil deeds.
And then I myself will gather the remnant of my flock and bring them back to
their meadow after they have been scattered out fear of the illegitimate
shepherds.
And so, we leave it up to God
to take care of the bad shepherds, and pray for an increase of the number of
new good shepherds that are needed so very much in our own day – the flock
needs these shepherds; and they need shepherds with the good sense to “go on a
spiritual vacation” often – to spend time with “the Chief Shepherd” – the Good
and Best of All Shepherds – Jesus the Christ – so they will have the latest and
most timely information and experiences to share with their people!
Let us remember that it is
really God who shepherds the entire flock – with whomever he chooses to image
and re-present him; let there always be a faithful flock to follow dedicated,
devoted and holy shepherds!
My
sheep hear my voice, says the Lord; I know them, and they follow me!
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