16th Sunday of Ordinary Time (Cycle B)

July 19, 2009

by Reverend Deacon Lawrence A. St. Onge

      There was a noticeable buzz spreading through the banquet hall. Two great-uncles of the groom, brothers who had been so close growing up, but who hadn’t spoken to each other in more than 20 years, were soon going to be in the same place at the same time. How would they react?

      They were cool at first, not even acknowledging each other. Emissaries flitted from one to the other, trying to cajole them into making peace. But they wouldn’t budge. The night went on and they continued to ignore each other. But the wine flowed and the meal was good with lots of food from the old country. Then the band began to play and people got up to dance. The two old men sat alone at their separate tables scowling.

      Then, one brother looked over at the other one. The other brother looked back. They scowled at each other. But then the scowls turned into smirks. Smirks turned into grins. Soon the two were laughing – at who knows what? They both stood up and walked to a third table and sat down next to each other. They shared few words. But once again, a celebration of love brought two enemies together. And all around them their families danced.

      Today’s second reading was taken from St. Paul’s letter to the Ephesians. A major part of Paul’s hard and very difficult missionary work with the Gentiles was to tear down the wall that separated the Jew from the Gentile. The Jews were the chosen people of God who had been given God’s Law, and had a covenant relationship with God. One of the defining characteristics of the Jewish identity was there complete separation from the Gentiles – all those who were not Jewish. For St. Paul’s mission to the Gentiles to be successful, he needed to find a way to unite these two groups in Christ.

      Today’s reading presents us with some of the metaphorical strategies Paul used in uniting the Jews and the Gentiles in Christ. Paul speaks of Christ as “our peace,” the one whose blood “broke down the dividing wall of enmity” between Jew and Gentile. Although the Jewish Law had created a dividing line between Jew and Gentile, it was through his cross, that Jesus created “in himself one new person in the place of two.” For St. Paul, this newfound peace between Jew and Gentile reconciled “both with God.” The essence of Paul’s missionary work to the Gentiles is reflected in the closing lines of today’s reading: - through Christ, “we both (Jew and Gentile) have access in one spirit to the Father.” In other words, St. Paul is saying to the Ephesians that in his suffering and sacrifice, Jesus is able to reconcile that which is divided.

      In today’s first reading, the prophet Jeremiah spoke of a coming messianic age in which God would “raise up a righteous shoot to [King] David” and “appoint shepherds” who would bring back the scattered and misled sheep of God’s flock.

      In today’s gospel we hear how despite the need of the apostles to retreat and rest, great crowds followed Jesus and the apostles, so much so that “they had no opportunity even to eat.” We are further told that in his heart, Jesus “was moved with pity for them [the crowds].” And so, “he began to teach them many things.” Just as Jeremiah had foreshadowed six centuries earlier, the sheep were scattered and in need of a shepherd. One of the marks of the messianic age would be the appointment of “shepherds for them who will shepherd them so that they no longer fear and tremble; and none shall be missing.” The apostles served others as the shepherds of the Lord.

      A number of years ago there was a movie called Oh, God! The great comedian George Burns played the part of God. “God” appeared to a grocery clerk played by the country singer John Denver. “God” told Denver that he was picked to be a divine messenger. Denver replied, “Why me?” And “God” replied, “Why not you?”

      It is important for us to realize that God has picked us to be the messenger to the people we encounter in our daily lives. And what are our credentials for the task, we might ask? Actually, they are quite noteworthy. Besides all the natural gifts we have – life, intelligence, personality – we also have been baptized in the name of the Blessed Trinity, and consequently, have received the gifts of the Spirit – wisdom, understanding, fortitude. As the catechism of the church tells us, these gifts make us “fit and ready to undertake various tasks and offices for the renewal and building up of the church.” And what is one of the tasks that the Spirit assigns [us] on a regular basis? Jesus answers this question elsewhere in the gospel when he says: “Come to me all you who are burdened.” How often do we run into people who want to unburden themselves of their sorrows? How many times do we encounter people who are just looking for a soft shoulder to cry on, or an arm to lean on? Jesus is counting on us to provide that shoulder or that arm.

      In their missionary work, the Twelve Apostles and St. Paul continuously sought ways for all people to find peace and rest in Christ. We, also, by virtue of our baptism, are called to evangelize today, and we too need to carry on the work of the original apostles, and continue to emphasize that true peace and rest can be found only in a relationship with Jesus Christ. We are called to bring Christ’s healing and love wherever and whenever it is needed. We cannot turn on, or turn off, being Christian. When the need is there, we are expected to respond. It is no easy task to always be the Christian we are called to be; but there is no other way to righteously respond once we hear the call.