The Real

Greetings on this the Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Readings: Jer 23:1-6; PS Ps 23:1-3, 3-4, 5, 6; Eph 2:13-18; Mk 6:30-34
Notes: Beginning next Sunday and continuing for the following four Sundays, the gospel is taken from John 6, on the Bread of Life (Ordo of Prayer in the Liturgy of the Hours and Celebration of the Eucharist, 2021).

First reading
Righteous Shoot of David.
The Shepherd of the Lord’s choosing.

Responsorial Psalm
The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.

Guides us in the right path.

Second reading
Peace between Jews and Gentiles.

Alleluia Verse
My sheep hear my voice, says the Lord;
I know them, and they follow me.

Gospel Portion
Jesus, our Shepherd, nourishes and strengthens us.

Today’s gospel portion is equal to the Liturgy of the Word. It is the portion of the Mass precedes the Liturgy of the Eucharist. The very next portion of gospel in Mark 6 is the feeding of the 5,000. We’ll be reading form the gospel of John for four weeks in a row focusing on the Bread of Life discourse, John 6.

Today’s message is about gathering in the presence of the Lord.

In the deserted place.
Away from the World.
The hungry in body and soul.
The co-workers of Jesus joyful in their ministry.

Cross reference:

The Mission of the Twelve.
- Intercalated: The Death of John the Baptist.
The Return of the Twelve.

To hear him.
To receive him.
To love him.

Young Persons Retreat – entered the wonder of being in the presence of the Lord. I wish I called on the phone every one of you the Monday following and said, “The retreat is the real”. We say we retreated from the world.

I say we basked in what is most real: the love of Jesus.

Eucharistic Adoration precedes Eucharistic celebration.