The Compassionate Shepherd

16th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Just as the summer heat hits us and the children start their school holidays, Jesus reminds us that we need to rest. The need to rest is mentioned since the very beginning of the Bible. In the book of Genesis we read that “by the seventh day, God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work.” (Gen 2, 2) Some weeks back, we heard how Jesus, went with his disciples on a boat to get away from the people. Jesus had felt the need to rest.

In today’s reading, we hear that Jesus does not send the apostles to rest on their own, but to go with him. In Matthew’s Gospel, we read a similar invitation, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Mt 11, 28)

Today’s Gospel follows the one read last week, which narrated how Jesus sent the disciples in twos to teach and call the people to repentance. In truth, between today’s reading and last week’s, there is another part which recounts the killing of John the Baptist. Thus the apostles are not only physically tired, but also mentally and emotionally. They had been sent to teach and do what John the Baptist had been doing, and for this he had just been beheaded. They had been successful in their teaching. Yet, what happened to John must have also affected them. Jesus sees that they need to stop and rest. 

This is also an invitation to us. We have busy schedules and we wish to stop and rest. Jesus shows us that we need a break from our commitments, and we also need to rest in his presence. To rest with Jesus means that we trust him. So, we are again reminded today, about the importance of having faith in Jesus.

The Gospel that was proclaimed some weeks ago, recounting the episode when Jesus slept in the boat, despite the storm, shows us that when we are in his presence, we will be safe. When he tells us, “Come to me, all you who are weary,” he is inviting us to trust him, to believe that he can help us in whatever situation we find ourselves in. If we are finding it difficult and we do not know from where to start, or how we can spend time with Jesus, we can choose one among the daily reflections which we find available on social media and internet. Search for some reflection prepared by a parish or religious group and use this to help you spend time and rest in the presence of Jesus.

A reading from the Gospel of Mark (Mk 6, 30-34)

The apostles gathered together with Jesus and reported all they had done and taught.  He said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.”  People were coming and going in great numbers, and they had no opportunity even to eat.  

So they went off in the boat by themselves to a deserted place.  People saw them leaving and many came to know about it.  They hastened there on foot from all the towns and arrived at the place before them.

When he disembarked 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. 

The Gospel of the Lord
Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ

  1. Read the Gospel story so that you are familiar with it.
  2. Reflect on what the Gospel is saying to you. Which points would you highlight and why?
  3. Today, Jesus is inviting you to “Come and rest a while.” How will you reply? This is not a one off invitation, this is an invitation which Jesus extends to us each day, especially in times when we are troubled and stressed. To what or to whom do you turn in these situations? The deeper our relationship with Jesus, the more will we come to depend on him in all circumstances of our lives.
  4. Family unity increases as we open up to each other. For this type of relationship to mature, we need to spend time together. Jesus is also asking us to rest together as a family. Find time, so that with the rest of the family, you plan a time of rest together. Make this a weekly routine and mark the agreed day and time on your calendars so that everyone keeps the appointment.
  5. The shepherd is mentioned in today’s Gospel. Jesus has chosen you to be a shepherd for your children. Stop and reflect on how you are honouring this duty, how by your words and example you are guiding and inspiring your children. 
  6. Together with your family find the right time to read this gospel. The environment helps, so before you start, prepare:
    i. The Bible reading from St Mark (6, 30-34)
    ii. A candle
    iii. Cover the table with a green clot
    vi. A computer/laptop with the reading and clips
  7. Go through the steps with your children (2 age groups are being suggested)
  8. Feel free to adapt to your situation
  9. Be creative 😊
  10. Go to the Prayer Corner section to continue praying as a family

Today, we read that Jesus becomes aware of the fact that the apostles were tired and He tells them to rest. Even Jesus was tired. Yet the people were waiting for him and for his teachings. Instead of resting, Jesus went close to the people to share his teachings with them!

  • Jesus wants us to rest, and also to spend time with him
  • Printout of today’s activity
  • Pencil
  • Colours
PrintoutDownload

Have you ever felt tired?
What made you feel tired?
What do you do to have some rest?

Jesus’ friends were tired, because they had just returned from teaching and healing the people of several villages. They were happy that the people had welcomed them and listened to them. However, they felt tired. When Jesus saw them, he realised this.

Did you listen well to the Gospel? What happened when they arrived by boat to the place where they were to rest? (the people had arrived there before them, and they wanted to listen to Jesus)

What did Jesus do? Did he tell the people to go home, because he and his friends were tired? (no)

Do you know that Jesus wants to spend time with us too? Jesus is never tired, he is always ready to speak with us. Jesus is always in the mood to talk, he never sulks or gets angry. When we are not friends with someone, because of something they did, we do not speak to them. However, no matter what we do, Jesus always remains our friend and he wishes us to speak with him. Do you know that Jesus never sleeps? So, we can speak with Jesus whenever we want, no matter what time it is!

Jesus wishes to speak with you. Do you speak with him?
Do you speak with Jesus every day?
At what time?

Today’s activity is going to help us remember to speak with Jesus, at least for a short time every day. Jesus will be so pleased! He is going to be so happy that we are going to speak with him every day!

You need today’s printout, make one for each day of the week. Colour the words, “What did you do today? Did you spend time with Jesus?” Also write down the date. Leave these papers near your bed, together with a pencil. Before going to sleep, take one of the papers and on it mark those activities which you managed to do during the day. If you notice that during some days, you did not stop to talk with Jesus, make a promise with yourself that the next day, you will find time to spend with your best friend. You may talk with Jesus, anywhere and anytime, and this is what we are going to hear in today’s song, Whisper a prayer .

Sign of the Cross

Thank you Jesus, that we are able to play, to meet with friends, help at home and do so many other things. Help us so that every day we stop from whatever we are doing and spend time with you. Thank you Jesus, for always being there for us. Amen. 

Can you remember last week’s Gospel? Jesus sent his friends to teach, heal and repent, that is to be sorry for their wrong choices and to try not to repeat them again. Today’s Gospel tells us what happened when the apostles returned to Jesus.

  • It is important to learn how to plan the day, not only when at school, but also during our holidays
  • To be Jesus’ friends, we need to spend time, talking with him, each day
  • A jar
  • Sand
  • Small pebbles
  • Stones which fit into the jar
  • Water
  • Paper
  • Pencil

What happened when the apostles returned? What did Jesus want them to do? (Jesus noticed that they were tired and he wanted them to rest)

Where did they go to rest? (they went with Jesus, on the boat, to a deserted place)

What did they find, once they arrived? (the people had noticed where they were going, and they had arrived before them)

What did Jesus do? (he felt pity for them and started to talk with them and to teach them)

What would you have done, if you wanted to rest, and someone asked you to do something?

Although tired, and he wished to rest, Jesus did not scold the people, he did not send them away. Jesus realised that the people needed him, they wanted to listen to him, they needed his help. When Jesus looked at them, he felt that they were like sheep without a shepherd. 

Jesus is our shepherd. A shepherd takes care of his sheep, he protects them, he takes them to pastures where they find food and drink, he looks for them when they are lost, most of his life is spent with the sheep. In Jesus’ times, shepherds went out with their sheep for days at a stretch before returning, before going out to the fields once again, after a very short while. The sheep were the centre of the shepherd’s life. This is the way, Jesus looks at us. He cares for us and he is always there for us, no matter when or where. It is our choice, whether we want to be part of his flock or not.

Today’s Gospel makes us think on how we spend our time. Jesus wants us to find time for all that is important, even time to rest and time to pray.

Before starting today’s activity, think about those things which are so important that you cannot not do them. Then think about activities which you do, but which are less important. Finally think about those things which you enjoy doing, but they are not really important. You may write this lists in three columns.

Now get the jar and fill it with stones. Is it full?
Shake the jar, and add the pebbles. Shake it again, so that the pebbles move in the space between the rocks.
Is there any space left?
The sand is very fine, try putting it in the jar.
Now the jar, is really full!

The stones, represent those things which you put down in your first column – the things which are so important, that you cannot afford not doing. The pebbles are the other, less important activities. The sand represents the fun things you do.

Now empty the jar, and start filling it with sand first, then the pebbles and put in the stones at the end. Did you manage to fit them all in?

You did not manage to fit everything in because the sand now took a lot of place. So if you spend most of your time doing fun things, you will not have enough time for the other, more important activities.

Empty the jar once again, and fill it in like you did the first time round: stones, pebbles and sand.

What did we leave out? The water.

When you wrote down your lists, was Jesus in any of these lists? Jesus is like the water. Put the water in the jar. The water holds everything together. And Jesus is the one to fill us up and holds everything we do, together! You may keep this jar, near your bed or somewhere where you can see it, so that you are reminded that Jesus is an important part of our life and every day, we should make time to be with him.

Sign of the Cross.

Pray Psalm 2 and afterwards, listen to Jesus in my life.

1. According to today's Gospel, Jesus called the apostles and asked them to...

Correct! Wrong!

2. The apostles and Jesus did something to be able to enjoy some tranquility. What did they do?

Correct! Wrong!

3. What did the people do when they noticed where Jesus and the apostles were going?

Correct! Wrong!

4. What did Jesus do in front of the large crowd of people who went looking for him?

Correct! Wrong!

How to use this space

God speaks to us in many ways, including through the Sunday Scripture readings. Here you will find useful background and activities to better understand the upcoming Sunday's Scripture readings, helping you to connect the Scripture to daily life in a meaningful way.