​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​SUNDAY, JULY 21ST, 2024

9TH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

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INTRODUCTION​

Mark’s gospel makes clear how great is the press of the crowd, with its countless
     needs to be met, on Jesus and his disciples. Yet in today’s gospel Jesus advises
     his disciples to get away and rest, to take care of themselves. Sometimes we
     think that when others are in great need we shouldn’t think of ourselves at all; but
     Jesus also honors the caregivers’ need. We are sent from Christ’s table to care
     for others and for ourselves.

PRAYER OF THE DAY

O God, powerful and compassionate, you shepherd your people, faithfully
     feeding and protecting us. Heal each of us, and make us a whole people, that we may
     embody the justice and peace of your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.

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FIRST READING

JEREMIAH 23:1-6
Jeremiah prophesied before the exile in 587 BCE. In this passage, he uses the
     metaphor of a shepherd to describe the bad kings who have scattered the “flock”
     of Israel. God promises to gather the flock and to raise up a new king from
     David’s line to save Israel and Judah.

1 Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! says
     the Lord. 2 Therefore thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, concerning the
     shepherds who shepherd my people: It is you who have scattered my flock, and
     have driven them away, and you have not attended to them. So I will attend to
     you for your evil doings, says the Lord. 3 Then I myself will gather the remnant of
     my flock out of all the lands where I have driven them, and I will bring them back
     to their fold, and they shall be fruitful and multiply. 4 I will raise up shepherds over
     them who will shepherd them, and they shall not fear any longer, or be dismayed,
     nor shall any be missing, says the Lord.
 
     5 The days are surely coming, says the Lord, when I will raise up for David a
     righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute
     justice and righteousness in the land. 6 In his days Judah will be saved and Israel
     will live in safety. And this is the name by which he will be called: “The Lord is our
     righteousness.”

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PSALM

PSALM 23
(Response) The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not be in want. (Ps. 23:1)

1 The Lord is my shepherd;
I shall not be in want.
2 The Lord makes me lie down in green pastures
and leads me beside still waters.
3 You restore my soul, O Lord,
and guide me along right pathways for your name’s sake.
4 Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I shall fear no evil;
for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
(Response) The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not be in want. (Ps. 23:1)

5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil, and my cup is running over.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
(Response) The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not be in want. (Ps. 23:1)

SECOND READING

EPHESIANS 2:11-22
The author of this letter reminds his audience that originally they were not part of
     God’s chosen people. Through Jesus’ death, however, they are included in God’s
     household of faith, whose cornerstone is Jesus Christ.

11 Remember that at one time you Gentiles by birth, called “the uncircumcision”
     by those who are called “the circumcision”—a physical circumcision made in the
     flesh by human hands—12 remember that you were at that time without Christ,
     being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of
     promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ
     Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
     14 For he is our peace; in his flesh he has made both groups into one and has
     broken down the dividing wall, that is, the hostility between us. 15 He has
     abolished the law with its commandments and ordinances, that he might create in
     himself one new humanity in place of the two, thus making peace, 16 and might
     reconcile both groups to God in one body through the cross, thus putting to death
     that hostility through it. 17 So he came and proclaimed peace to you who were far
     off and peace to those who were near; 18 for through him both of us have access
     in one Spirit to the Father. 19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but
     you are citizens with the saints and also members of the household of God,
     20 built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus
     himself as the cornerstone. 21 In him the whole structure is joined together and
     grows into a holy temple in the Lord; 22 in whom you also are built together
     spiritually into a dwelling place for God.

​​​​GOSPEL ACCLAMATION
Alleluia. My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me. Alleluia. (John 10:27)

GOSPEL READING
MARK 6:30-34, 53-56

When Jesus sends his disciples out to teach and heal, they minister among large
     numbers of people. Their work is motivated by Christ’s desire to be among those
     in need.

30 The apostles gathered around Jesus, and told him all that they had done and
     taught. 31 He said to them, “Come away to a deserted place all by yourselves
     and rest a while.” For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure
     even to eat. 32 And they went away in the boat to a deserted place by
     themselves. 33 Now many saw them going and recognized them, and they
     hurried there on foot from all the towns and arrived ahead of them. 34 As he went
     ashore, he saw a great crowd; and he had compassion for them, because they
     were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things.

     53 When they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret and moored
     the boat. 54 When they got out of the boat, people at once recognized him,
     55 and rushed about that whole region and began to bring the sick on mats to
     wherever they heard he was. 56 And wherever he went, into villages or cities or
     farms, they laid the sick in the marketplaces, and begged him that they might
     touch even the fringe of his cloak; and all who touched it were healed.​

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​SERMONS​
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TAKING FAITH HOME

BULLETIN FOR SUNDAY, JULY 21ST, 2024

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