16th Sunday

We know the transcendent God is beyond knowing, but we also know he graciously came into the world and was made known to us through his son Jesus, and we know he remains with us in the Holy Spirit.

But another, very ancient, expression of God, in fact the center piece of the Old Testament understanding of God is the he is the Lord, the rightful sovereign king of not only Israel, but all creation.

 In our human history God's reign on earth had be hidden by the veil of the human condition and distorted by the power and darkness of sin.

 God’s rule through the anointed kings of Israel, was tarnished by their jealousy and pride, God’s sovereignty was hidden in their sinfulness and the forgetfulness of his people..

 Scripture promises that God will come again to set things right and to take up his rightful throne and rule in justice (for he will judge in mercy) and in righteousness (for his glory and joy will fill creation).

This was unstoppable and his judgement on the nations will be on everyone - Kings, princes and subjects, shepherds and flock. All would be held accountable on the Kings return.

 In the first reading.

 The prophet Jeremiah points to Israel's kings and princes and condemns them for their failure, their hardness of heart and betrayal of the people and of God.

 They were meant, with the help of faithful people, to be good shepherds.

 But, they had become hirelings and even wolves, protecting their own self-interest, relying on force, intrigue and deceit to hold onto power - and the people, dis-satisfied, stubborn, went their own individual way.

They all had turned their backs on the common good and so they had turned their backs on God’s plan which is always unity.

 But all would be set right for God will come again and to take up his rightful place as true king and he will rule on earth as in heaven. God himself would be the good shepherd and all would be his obedient flock.

 The responsorial echoes this new reality in profound simplicity - the Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

  God's joyful, abundant wedding feast will be shared by every person of good will.

Every person will be anointed in a new unity, a new goodness, and a new righteousness.

 And the Good News for us is that this has already happened.

St Paul describes how this is being done in Jesus.

By Jesus' death, resurrection and ascension into heaven Jesus now rules, as Lord, over heaven and earth.

It is Jesus who now gathers together the scattered flock. It is Jesus who now sheds light on the darkness of abusive power, as well as, the obstinately unfaithful.

  In Jesus the far and the close are now brought together into one new creation; a new heaven and a new earth, a new people reconciled with God as their rightful king and with each other as faithful subjects in their Lord's fellowship.

 Jesus, breaking bread with sinners, forgiving sins, healing the wounded and comforting the broken hearted. God is at work on earth because Jesus is doing the work of God. This is what God’s kingship looks like. This is our model and this is now.

  The Gospel today continues this thought. It is a brief transitional passage between the sending out of the disciples and the feeding of the multitude. But it is not filler.

 Jesus gathers the disciples who have come back from spreading the Good News.

Jesus invites them to forget about who did what and to instead come with him to a deserted place to pray and rest.

 Of course, their quite place turns out not to be not so quite. Jesus always drew a crowd and so he does here; the curious, those wishing to hear the teacher, those desperate to be forgiven and those crying out to be healed.

 Jesus was moved by compassion and the words of Jeremiah, Isaiah, the psalms must of swirled in his head for these before him were indeed like lost and abandoned sheep without a shepherd.

 Jesus began to teach them that they (and us) are not lost nor abandoned. God is faithful, and God will find us and care for us and he will lead us.

 And not only that, Jesus' is telling them that this is not some distant promise, it had begun, in Jesus himself something new had started and it would continue in him and through him, and those who follow him, and this transformation of life will come to completion as God had always intended it to - in unity and peace, justice and righteousness.

The earth and its people will be healed and brought together in the power of God's love.

Jesus changes everything. In him God's reign had begun.

 And because this new reign has started we must get on board as faithful and obedient subjects. Even if God's sovereignty seems hidden by our worldly desires, agendas and power structures.

 No matter what it seems like, the truth is, God's reign has begun in Jesus and we are his rightful subjects; as leaders and followers, shepherds and flock we each have a responsibility to the sovereignty of God.

 To be good shepherds and a faithful flock is to listen to God and to each other and to contribute to the building up his kingdom here and now, and do everything in our power not to harm, tear down or scatter it. 

We must lead and be lead in openness and understanding, in kindness and generosity.

 We owe allegiance to God as King and Jesus as Lord and to each other as faithful servants s brothers and sisters.

We are obliged to do his will, striving always for peace and unity.

We are obliged, as faithful subjects of our Lord Jesus, to cling to each other.

And together rejoice in hope and together be patient in trial.

We are obliged to pray for each other and to love on another.

We do this because our rightful Lord, comes, with power and like a shepherd he gathers the lambs, carrying us in his arms and leading