Sunday Sermon for July 21, 2024, the Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B
Readings: Jer 23:1-6; Eph 2:13-18; Mk 6:30-34
In the first reading today, God pronounces a woe on the shepherds who mislead and scatter the Lord’s flock. There are many people today who are waiting for the Lord to act because there are so many shepherds who are not caring for the flock. In a time of confusion and chaos, people are looking for clarity and stability, but many in the hierarchy are giving us just the opposite. Why is God allowing this? Why has He not intervened to protect the Church and the souls of His people?
There are two things we must keep in mind. First of all, God knows the shepherds who are leading people astray. The fact that this is happening is not a surprise to Him. So, why is He letting this happen? Well, on one hand, we get the leaders we deserve. Most people who call themselves Catholic refuse to conform themselves to the teachings of the Church. A rejection of God’s truth will bring leaders who will show us the consequences of rejecting the truth.
On the other hand, God is allowing this because the Church needs to be crucified. It was necessary that Judas Iscariot was among the Twelve; it was necessary that Jesus was betrayed by someone on the inside. The Church is the Mystical Person of Christ. She will be betrayed by those on the inside. In order for this to occur, it is necessary that some in positions of leadership will follow in the path blazed by Judas.
This brings us to the second point, which is that God is allowing this as a test for every person. We notice that while condemning the shepherds who have scattered and driven away the sheep, God then says He will bring the sheep back from the lands “to which I have driven them.” In other words, God has used these bad and corrupt shepherds to fulfill His will toward the flock. Why would God want the flock scattered? He doesn’t. Many sheep have chosen to stray; God has allowed us to go our way to test us. Will we be faithful to our Shepherd or will we turn to someone or something else?
In the first reading we are told about God raising up a righteous shoot to David who will reign and govern wisely. This prophecy was written nearly four hundred years after King David died, so it is not referring to Solomon. We know this prophecy is fulfilled in Jesus. In the Gospel reading, we hear about our Lord having pity on the people because they were like sheep without a shepherd. He is our Shepherd; even if our human shepherds mislead the flock, we know Who our Shepherd is. Will we listen to His voice or follow another?
St. Paul says in the second reading that Jesus is our peace. This is because Jesus spoke the truth to us, He led us correctly, and He has laid down His life for us to bring us into unity with one another and with God. As the flock chooses to scatter by turning to false gods and false doctrines, if we choose to remain faithful to our Shepherd, we will remain united with all the others who choose fidelity to Christ and to the truth. Because God is Truth, we remain united with Him when we choose the truth.
If we are in union with God, we can remain at peace, even in the midst of chaos and confusion. The truth is always clear, so there is no confusion; God is our Rock, so there is no internal chaos. This is the point that is absolutely critical for us in these times. Everything around us is going to collapse. This is in regard to both the Church and society. But for those who remain united with our Lord, our Good Shepherd Who has not abandoned His flock, there will be peace and security.
When our Lady was at the foot of the Cross, she remained at peace. Certainly, she felt the pain of a mother’s heart being broken as she watched her Son suffer and die. But she knew this was going to happen and she knew why it was happening. By remaining united with God and His holy will, she was able to maintain her peace.
We also know what is going to happen and we know why, so we can be at peace. With 2000 years of saints and Church teaching, apply what you know about the necessity of the Passion of Jesus to what is happening in the Church today, then make your choice. God pronounces woe on the shepherds who mislead and scatter the flock (and those who willfully follow them), but promises the greatest blessing for those who remain faithful to the Shepherd of their souls.
Fr. Altier’s column appears regularly in The Wanderer, a national Catholic weekly published in St. Paul, Minn. For information about subscribing to The Wanderer, please visit www.thewandererpress.com.
