Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
- a reflection by Fr. Leo
“When Jesus got out of the boat and saw the vast crowd, his heart was moved with pity for them, for they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things.” (Mk0
People were attracted to Jesus. They came to him in great numbers. He and his disciples hardly had time to rest. What was it that attracted the crowds to Jesus? What was their hunger?
Jesus didn’t have money, but he had wisdom and the power of the Holy Spirit to make people whole, physically, mentally and spiritually. People were attracted by a whole new way of understanding the purpose and meaning of their lives. They longed for what Jesus taught because is resonated in the deepest part of their beings. Through Christ they learned of God’s love for them, that they were God’s son’s and daughter’s. They learned to live in awe of God and not fear. They learned the difference between a religion that binds, to one that set them free. They learned how to live in the Spirit and not by the letter of the law.
We too are ultimately happy when our hearts rest in God as St. Augustin said. When the Spirit lives in us and we find the voice of the good shepherd within us, God’s work is accomplished. This is why Jesus was moved to pity. The people had not learned yet to hear the voice of the Gospel within them, where it is written in their hearts. Once shown the way, the people would live in God’s truth and the power of the Holy Spirit would manifest God’s self in and through them to the community. The Good Shepherd becomes Jesus present in the power of the Holy Spirit.
For us the Gospel is the Holy Spirit dwelling in us. The scriptures we celebrate and pray, help us to recognize God voice that comes from the deepest part of our being. For each of us knows what is noble and true, and the inspiration of the Holy Spirit helps us live God’s truth, so that God’s light may shine and the darkness of the world is cast out. Each little act of faithfulness to what love requires is a fanning of the light of Christ. This week let seek to recognize God’s voice within us and find small ways to fan the light of Christ through doing what love requires.