Best Practices and Homily Resources for Catholic Priests (2024)

Mark 6:30-34

Jeremiah 23:1-6

Psalm 23:1-3, 3-4, 5-6

Ephesians 2:13-18

Mark 6:30-34

The apostles gathered together with Jesus

and reported all they had done and taught.

He said to them,

“Come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.”

People were coming and going in great numbers,

and they had no opportunity even to eat.

So they went off in the boat by themselves to a deserted place.

People saw them leaving and many came to know about it.

They hastened there on foot from all the towns

and arrived at the place before them.

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.

Opening Prayer:Lord God, you have taught me many things. My life has meaning because I know that I am called to share in your divine life. My life does not end in the grave. I will encounter you and ask that you be merciful to me on the day of judgment.

Encountering the Word of God

1. Come Away To a Deserted Place:In the Gospel, Jesus manifests his deep concern for the well-being of his apostles. They were sent out two by two on mission and ministered throughout Galilee. They preached about the Kingdom, invited people to repent, cast out demons, and healed the sick by anointing them with oil. They met with both acceptance and rejection. Naturally, they were tired and exhausted and in need of rest. But Jesus also wanted them to go to a deserted place, away from the crowds, so that they would not get too prideful about their successful ministry. There are also times in our lives when we need to break from our day-to-day lives. We need time to reflect, to pray, and to strengthen our resolve to follow Jesus.

2. Jesus’ Heart:Jesus is concerned for his apostles, but also for the crowds who hunger for his words and healing touch. Jesus sees that the people lack a Good Shepherd. They have been hurt by the religious authorities like the scribes, priests, and Pharisees who, instead of guiding them to God, have exploited them. “As shepherdless sheep are likely to scatter, get lost, and quickly become vulnerable to predatory beasts, so when leadership fails, God’s people are likely to stray from fidelity to him and become prey to their enemies. After Israel had experienced centuries of incompetent, self-seeking, and corrupt leadership (as exemplified by Herod Antipas), there was a growing recognition that ultimately only God himself can adequately guide his people and provide for their needs” (Healy,The Gospel of Mark, 125).The people who went after Jesus longed for his message, a message of mercy, love, forgiveness, peace, purity of heart, joy, sacrifice, suffering, and repentance.

3. God Saved Us:Last Sunday, we read from the first chapter of Paul’s Letter to the Ephesians. We learned that our salvation was planned by the Father from all eternity, was fulfilled in his Son, and is bestowed on us through baptism and the Spirit. This Sunday we read a section from the second chapter. Ephesians 2 begins by explaining how God saved us from spiritual death, the world, the flesh, and the devil and raised us up to heaven as an act of pure grace through our union with Christ (Williamson,Ephesians, 105). In our Second Reading (2:13-18), Paul proposes that Christ’s death eliminated the causes of division between Jew and Gentile and united both to God. One cause of division was the Law of Moses. What Paul proclaims is that our covenant relationship to God no longer depends on the observance of the old Law of Moses. The relationship of both Jews and Gentiles to God is founded on the New Covenant in Christ’s blood (Williamson,Ephesians, 73). The Old Law of Moses, which divided humanity, has been brought to fulfillment and its perfection in the New Law of Christ, which unites humanity. “Just as Jesus’ death on the cross eliminated the estrangement between Jews and Gentiles and between God and the human race, his resurrection brought both Jews and Gentiles into an intimate relationship with the Father through the Holy Spirit” (Williamson,Ephesians, 76). Through the Son, we all have access in the Spirit to the Father (Ephesians 2:18). Gentile and Jewish believers have been united in one body, reconciled with God, and built into a spiritual temple (Williamson,Ephesians, 105).

Conversing with Christ:Lord Jesus, you are always ready to serve your people. You are not selfish in any way but have given your life as a ransom for many. You died for my sins and have redeemed me. I want to offer my life too and be a servant of those I encounter.

Living the Word of God: How can I better listen to and welcome Jesus’ teaching and be an agent of unity within my community? Do I understand the ideologies that divide people? How can I have a heart like Jesus that is moved to pity?

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