Homily 16th Sunday Ordinary Time
When I am worried and cannot sleep, I count my blessings instead of sheep; and I fall asleep counting my blessings! These song lyrics are courtesy of Bing Crosby and were made popular in the 1954 movie White Christmas.
Indeed, when I was a little boy my grandmother used to tell me to count sheep if I could not go to sleep. I learned later in life, it is far greater to count our blessings.
The thing about sheep is they truly need a good shepherd to survive. Left alone, sheep will wander and lack purpose and direction. Left alone, sheep are vulnerable and exposed to countless dangers. They need a shepherd.
As people of faith, we too can lack direction and be exposed to many dangers. We need a shepherd. And we have a Good Shepherd; He is Jesus Christ!
St. Mark’s Gospel picks up right after the sending of the Apostles two by two. Remember, they were sent with explicit instructions, the shepherd told his sheep how to survive and thrive and bear good fruit. The sheep return to report back to their shepherd and being the Good Shepherd he immediately invites his sheep to a place and time of rest.
We know that they had no time to rest however as the Good Shepherd and his sheep were met by vast crowds. Scripture tells us these crowds hastened to meet them; they were in a hurry to be with the Good Shepherd.
When Jesus and the Apostles arrived for rest and encountered vast crowds was there anger or even disappointment? No! Jesus immediately had pity for the crowds and his heart was moved; for they were like sheep without a shepherd. We know he taught them many things but if we go further a few more verses we also know he miraculously fed these vast crowds. The Good Shepherd caring for his sheep fed them spiritually and nourished them with real food. Imagine if we could have that opportunity! But we do!! We are privileged as Catholics every week to hear Jesus directly proclaim to us His teachings and every week to feed us with His body and blood. No greater feast can we ever participate in than the Wedding Supper of the Lamb! The Good Shepherd indeed takes care of his sheep; you and me!
As part of this week’s liturgy we heard and responded to the 23rd Psalm. The Lord IS my Shepherd, there is nothing I shall want. Even though this Psalm is attributed to King David and written long before the birth of the Good Shepherd, it contains our many blessings of the Sacramental Life of the Church!! We can glimpse the 7 Sacraments right here in the 23rd Psalm. Restful waters speaks to us of the waters of our Baptism, the table before me invites us to the Eucharistic table of the Good Shepherd as we receive Him in Holy Communion, even the overflowing cup points to the chalice of salvation! He guides me in right paths and gives me courage; exactly what happens to each of us when we confess our sins and receive absolution in Confession, and he anoints my head with oil; a glimpse of our Confirmation, when we are sealed with the Holy Spirit and receive the Holy Chrism, and a glimpse of the Anointing of the Sick, when oil is used to strengthen us in our illnesses, and finally Holy Orders, when the Priest is anointed to be a shepherd to the people he ministers to. And of course in Baptism we are anointing Priest, Prophet and King to share in the ministries of the Good Shepherd. Even Holy Matrimony is evident as the Sacramental union of man and wife requires goodness and kindness and standing by each other’s side. And we all want to dwell in the house of the Lord, our promise to share in His eternal life!
In the week ahead, can we all commit to pray this beautiful 23rd Psalm at least three times? What a wonderful experience in our everyday lives to reflect on the meaning of this Psalm and the many blessings contained therein! Can we reflect specifically as Catholics, and people of good will, on the Sacraments and the blessings they bring to our lives? And can we pray this week for those shepherds the Church gives us to help us on the way; our Holy Father Pope Francis, our Archbishop Aymond and our Pastor, Fr. Kenny and all our Priests?
Jesus is our Good Shepherd; we are his sheep. May we always follow him! And remember, when you are worried and cannot sleep, just count your blessings instead of sheep!
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