Be good and stretch for better

The texts today from the Roman Catholic Lectionary inspire contemplation about our actions which need to seek good and be prepared to deliver better. The Prophet Jeremiah declares the will of God that the people of God in exile will be returned to Jerusalem under the guidance of a Messiah. The Shepherd sent by God, Jesus, as noted by Dennis Hamm S.J., is more than a political leader. In the Letter to the Ephesians, Jesus is described as extending from those who are near, the Jewish people, to those who are far off, the Gentiles, the Spirit which is the love between Father and Son. The Gospel from Matthew sets a scene of restoration and renewal for the disciples who have returned from spreading the Good News. The Good Shepherd is moved to be more to the people He encounters. The need for our good motivations to be extended into deeper concern for all the relationships we have with people and other species on the planet is emphasized in the commentary of Dennis Hamm S.J. by reference to Pope Francis Laudato Si encyclical