SHEPHERDING FUTURE SHEPHERDS … God’s Word, as given to us in the Scripture readings for this 16th Sunday in Ordinary Time, takes up the familiar theme of the Lord as the true Shepherd of his flock. The Gospel, in particular, focuses our attention on Christ’s solicitude for those whom he has chosen to carry on the ministry of shepherding following the completion of his own earthly ministry. In last Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus sent the apostles out to preach the Good News of God’s love and to perform miracles of healing. Upon their return from this “first missionary journey,” Jesus “takes them off by themselves to a deserted place to rest awhile.” The crucial importance of their own future ministry is underscored by the fact that people seek them out even in their deserted place of rest. Today’s Gospel ends with the words, “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.”

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