Scripture Study for
Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Jeremiah 23:1–6 / Psalm 23:1 / Ephesians 2:13–18 / Mark 6:30–34
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Understanding the Word
By Br. John R. Barker, OFM
Today’s passage from Jeremiah occurs in a section of oracles from the very last days of Jerusalem. The prophet’s strongest criticisms are reserved for the Davidic kings, who are charged with maintaining justice and ensuring covenant fidelity. Yet these “shepherds” have failed to uphold justice and correct worship of God. Because of their negligence, Israel is now under judgment, which will include exile (the scattering of the sheep). Yet God insists that this judgment is not the end of the story. After a time, God will gather the sheep and return them to the land, placing over them a righteous Davidic king who will lead the people as God expects them to be led.
Paul reminds the Ephesians that before they became Christians, they were dead in their transgressions, but have now been brought to life in Christ, a completely unmerited gift (2:1–7). The Gentile Ephesians have thus been brought into the household of the God of Israel through the blood of Christ, who has erased the boundary that separated Jews from Gentiles. What was once two people is now one people. Not only has the estrangement between Jew and Gentile been overcome, but the estrangement of both from God has been healed in the very body of Christ, both the body of Christ on the cross and now in the body of Christ that is the church (the “one new person”).
The apostles Jesus sent out last week have returned. The work of proclaiming the Kingdom is exhausting, and so they are invited to rest. But the work is never actually over; the more the kingdom is proclaimed, the more the people clamor to receive its gifts. Jesus knows, however, that the apostles must be rested and fed so that they can continue their ministry. Yet the people keep coming, looking for Jesus. Not only is this a sign of the faith that Jesus admires and praises so much, but it is also a sign of the needs of the people. It is in response to both the faith and the need that Jesus begins to teach the crowd.