Scripture Reflections for Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

"If we look at the political situation in Europe, and further afield, we witness the collapse of the centrist parties: traditional political certainties are falling apart. And as in politics so too in our society at large. I cannot recall a time in my life where our society has seemed so divided with areas of common ground increasingly hard to find."

Fr. Toby Lees. "Holding to the Centre." Torch. July 18, 2018

"With some Gospel passages you can relate to the experience of the Apostles and disciples immediately, but I have always struggled to understand when people have told me ‘they had no time even to eat.’ There have been times when I didn’t happen to have anything at hand to eat, but never a time when something was at hand and I didn’t have time to eat it!"

Fr. Toby Lees. "Rest in God." Torch. July 14, 2021

"Today’s readings talk a lot about shepherds and sheep. Lost sheep, shepherds who don’t tend their flock, God’s plan to appoint good shepherds through Christ who will save the remnants of His flock and brings us all together. But for most of us in this modern age, while we get the idea of shepherd, it’s hard for us to relate. For most of us, the only time we have seen a sheep is on the..."

Joseph LaCombe. "One Team in Christ." A Catholic Moment. July 19, 2015

"These four verses, the shortest gospel reading in the Sunday cycle, recount a fairly unremarkable circumstance. When the Twelve, sent out by Jesus to preach repentance, return and report to him, he calls them to retire with him to a ‘deserted place’, away from the crowds. They escape by boat but the crowds get ahead of them. For Jesus, moved with pity, the crowds seem like ‘sheep without a shepherd’, so he begins to teach..."

Fr. Fergus Kerr. "The Empty Desert?." Torch. July 15, 2015

"The Gospel of last Sunday told of Christ's first sending out of the disciples on a mission of preaching and healing. In the order of Mark's Gospel it was followed by an interlude which tells of the Herod, the Tetrarch of Galilee, hearing of Jesus's mission, and being touched in his conscience and thinking that here was John the Baptist come back from the dead; it adds the story of how he had had John..."

Fr. Edward Booth. "Unprecedented Mission." Torch. July 19, 2009

"Today’s readings explain how God, like a good shepherd, redeems His people and provides for them. The readings also challenge us to use our God-given authority in the family, in the Church, and in society, with fidelity and responsibility. Today, pastoral ministry includes not only the pastoral care given by those named or ordained as “pastors,” but the loving service given by all Christians who follow different callings to serve and lead others. The people..."

Father Lawrence Obilor. "The is the Shepherd of his people." A Catholic Moment. July 18, 2021

"Just in case we do not notice the first time, Mark repeats Jesus's suggestion to the Apostles that they go by themselves 'to a wilderness place' to get a break from the crowds (Mark 6:31, 32). By the time they get there a great throng has arrived and they are like sheep without a shepherd. Moved with compassion -- this is one of the places where Mark uses a characteristic term -- Jesus begins to..."

Fr. Vivian Boland. "Truth in the Wilderness." Torch. July 23, 2006

"Various conflicts in recent years have reminded us that when civil war breaks out, the normal decencies of life are soon forgotten. The good relations built up between neighbours give way to mutual suspicion and enmity. Even life-long ties can be sacrificed for that mystical sense of belonging to a particular tribe or people, to a particular religion or culture."

Fr. John Patrick Kenrick. "Our unity in Christ." Torch. July 20, 2003