16TH SUNDAY OF ORDINARY TIME HOMILY – YEAR B 2024
RETURN FROM MISSION WITH MORE TO DO
Mk 6.30-34 Jer 23.1-6 Eph 2.13-18
I can’t avoid a word on events further afield, when we hear assertions that divine intervention saved Donald Trump, according to himself, and, on the other hand, Joe Biden says only the Almighty could stop him running for re-election! I believe it preferable that God be left out of such politicking, wherever it is!
This week I had a friendly chat with our 75 or so Prep students, to see how they were going. I was encouraged by their bright enthusiasm to share what they had been learning, from maths to reading to religion and Jesus, kindness, thoughtfulness and forgiveness. I was impressed with the young chap who told me he could count to 500, so I added one more, and mentioned infinity! Another told me they were learning the difference between non-fiction and fiction, and then they voted for me to read them a non-fiction story, but I’d only brought fiction, so they got a story about bad mannered, but funny aliens who got scared off back into space by the school class photo!
I guess that’s part of what my mission is, as priest or pastor in the parish, to engage with our students and try to connect with them in sharing the Jesus message in a down to earth way. Some had been at baptisms of younger siblings, so could tell me something about what that meant too, as followers of Jesus. Finally, I showed them my walking, roaring, battery operated pet dinosaur, then left them to learning more mathematics!
Then, we had our parish Annual Winter Warmer, with the Senior Friendship Group in action. And that was in between 3 funerals, along with the welcome evening for the completion of the extension of Ave Maria Kindergarten, and a great performance of the musical Chicago, by students from St Columba’s and St Bernard’s Colleges. So it was quite a week. with plenty happening on the local scene, and nothing like variety in whatever mission entails!!
Now, in today’s Gospel, the disciples return from their mission, having been empowered by Jesus, to offer hope by preaching repentance, driving out demons and healing the sick, as we heard last week. They are impressed with their initial success, and retain their enthusiasm, but Jesus reminds them of the importance of balancing action with time for rest, reflection and prayer, for maintaining the momentum and enthusiasm in the longer term.
But all is not good news in the interim, as almost a distraction, Mark has the account of John the Baptist losing his head at the wish of the mother of Herodias, the dancing girl at Herod’s birthday party! Whatever about the sequence, there is a need for time out, peace and reflection, after their journey, and they withdraw to a quiet place with Jesus, only to find the crowds gathering again to hear from Jesus, who responds to their needs, first in word, then in deed. It is suggested that this sets the scene for the feeding of the 5,000, alleviating their hunger, which comes next week. The focus today is on Jesus responding with compassion to those who had gathered to hear him, first offering encouragement and enlightenment through his teaching.
The metaphor of Jesus as Good Shepherd again appears here, following the imagery of the prophet Jeremiah, who warns those with responsibility for leadership of the people, that they are doomed if they don’t act with honesty and integrity, and not out of self-concern, but for the common good, like a shepherd keeping close to his sheep, offering security and protection from external dangers, of which there were many.
In the second reading, it’s interesting that Paul is concerned about the difficulties and restrictions brought about by the rules and decrees of the law, as he focuses on the need for peace, which is at the heart of the good news proclaimed by Jesus, the call being to overcome any hostility between individuals and groups with differing attitudes and interpretations. Jesus was not so much a legislator, bringing in new laws, as a pastoral and empathetic teacher, enlightening the masses with the law of love and peace, and a sense of justice for all.
Once again, I like Claude Mostowik’s take: “Mark’s narrative is action-oriented and heart-centred. Jesus and his followers are always on the move. Mere belief is not enough – the gospel needs to be lived as we work to deconstruct an unjust world and introduce a new world through the person of Jesus… Compassion must be our protest and hospitality our ‘resistance’… Jesus has come among a community in pain, wounded and hurting, in need of healing and reconciliation. They experienced indifference from their leaders, but (Jesus) suggests that they can, together, bring about change and establish God’s reign. Institutions and synagogue did not offer peace or healing.” So now, in a troubled world, as faithful disciples, we should “strive to bring people together, offer hope through their solidarity (and ours), strive to be peacemakers and remind people of their interconnectedness.”
Like our St Vincent de Paul members, it’s not a solo expedition, but disciples are to go out together, supporting and encouraging each other, presumably in dialogue with each other about the best way to handle the challenges of mission together. And is this not why we have parish communities with a sense of welcome, hospitality along with a call to worship in ritual, prayer and sacramental celebration, in all of our diversity. Meanwhile, our Christian mission is clear enough, to take the Gospel of Jesus to heart and to apply it to the way we live our lives, making choices using our God-given free will to do good and avoid evil, in simple terms.
And so we gather in faith now, as we celebrate Eucharist and pray together.
john hannon 21st July 2024