The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today invoke our gratitude for being among the flock of the Good Shepherd who continues to be goodness and mercy that follows me.
The reading from the Letter to the Hebrews ends with a Benediction.
* [13:17–25] Recommending obedience to the leaders of the community, the author asks for prayers (Heb 13:17–19). The letter concludes with a blessing (Heb 13:20–21), a final request for the acceptance of its message (Heb 13:22), information regarding Timothy (Heb 13:23), and general greetings (Heb 13:24–25).
* [13:20–21] These verses constitute one of the most beautiful blessings in the New Testament. The resurrection of Jesus is presupposed throughout Hebrews, since it is included in the author’s frequently expressed idea of his exaltation, but this is the only place where it is explicitly mentioned. (Hebrews, CHAPTER 13 | USCCB, n.d.)
Psalm 23 praises The Divine Shepherd
* [Psalm 23] God’s loving care for the psalmist is portrayed under the figures of a shepherd for the flock (Ps 23:1–4) and a host’s generosity toward a guest (Ps 23:5–6). The imagery of both sections is drawn from traditions of the exodus (Is 40:11; 49:10; Jer 31:10).
* [23:1] My shepherd: God as good shepherd is common in both the Old Testament and the New Testament (Ez 34:11–16; Jn 10:11–18).
* [23:3] Right paths: connotes “right way” and “way of righteousness.”
* [23:5] You set a table before me: this expression occurs in an exodus context in Ps 78:19. In front of my enemies: my enemies see that I am God’s friend and guest. Oil: a perfumed ointment made from olive oil, used especially at banquets (Ps 104:15; Mt 26:7; Lk 7:37, 46; Jn 12:2).
* [23:6] Goodness and mercy: the blessings of God’s covenant with Israel. (Psalms, PSALM 23 | USCCB, n.d.)
In the Gospel of Mark, the Good Shepherd is feeding the Five Thousand.
* [6:30] Apostles: here, and in some manuscripts at Mk 3:14, Mark calls apostles (i.e., those sent forth) the Twelve whom Jesus sends as his emissaries, empowering them to preach, to expel demons, and to cure the sick (Mk 6:13). Only after Pentecost is the title used in the technical sense.
* [6:31–34] The withdrawal of Jesus with his disciples to a desert place to rest attracts a great number of people to follow them. Toward this people of the new exodus Jesus is moved with pity; he satisfies their spiritual hunger by teaching them many things, thus gradually showing himself the faithful shepherd of a new Israel; cf. Nm 27:17; Ez 34:15. (Mark, CHAPTER 6 | USCCB, n.d.)
Nancy Shirley comments that In the gospel, we see themes from the previous two readings – the disciples have been out and about doing good deeds as we are urged to do in the first reading and also the encouragement of rest (Come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while) as the psalm also invites us.
The responsorial psalm is a familiar one – perhaps the best known. We have frequently heard this at wake services and seen it printed on funeral programs. It not only presents the image of the loving shepherd protecting his sheep and providing what is needed, it also emphasizes the rest and peace that we receive through God. The gospel also speaks of rest. I recently heard someone speak about the holiness of rest. As we think of the Creation story, God made holy that day of rest and that there is a true holiness about rest and renewal. The psalm offers a couple of images of repose and of restful waters and the refreshment that such rest brings. As we dwell in the house of the Lord, we are at rest – we let go and let God. When we truly rest, we recognize that we are not in control; we give it to God and trust in what will come. Resting is not a laziness, rather than a commitment to our Maker, an opportunity to connect and let go of the rush and stress that plagues our everyday lives. (Shirley, n.d.)
Don Schwager quotes “The good shepherd feeds us with the words of God,” by Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 A.D.
"The pastures that this good shepherd has prepared for you, in which he has settled you for you to take your fill, are not various kinds of grasses and green things, among which some are sweet to the taste, some extremely bitter, which as the seasons succeed one another are sometimes there and sometimes not. Your pastures are the words of God and his commandments, and they have all been sown as sweet grasses. These pastures had been tasted by that man who said to God, 'How sweet are your words to my palate, more so than honey and the honeycomb in my mouth!' (Psalm 119:103)."(excerpt from Sermon 366.3) (Schwager, n.d.)
The Word Among Us Meditation on Hebrews 13:15-17, 20-21 comments that as the author ends his letter, he points them toward the future: “May the God of peace . . . carry out in you what is pleasing to him through Jesus Christ” (13:20, 21). Essentially, he is telling them that the Lord has been active in their lives—from the days of their initial enthusiasm to today, even on days when they needed to “strengthen [their] drooping hands and [their] weak knees” (12:12). If they could keep their eyes “fixed on Jesus,” they would see how he was changing them—and that would make them more eager to cooperate with him in those changes (12:2).
What about you? Can you believe that Jesus is working in you to “carry out what is pleasing to him”? Can you identify how he has used your experiences over time to mold you and shape you more into his image? Maybe you could dig out an old photograph of yourself from years ago and think about what you were like back then. Or, if you keep a prayer journal, maybe you could go back a few years, read what you wrote, and compare it with the way you think now.
Find the evidence of the Lord’s work, and thank and praise him for it! The more aware you are of what God is doing in you, the more you will be willing to cooperate with him—until every area of your life is pleasing to him.
“Thank you, Jesus, for your faithfulness to me!” (Meditation on Hebrews 13:15-17, 20-21, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler comments on how Hebrews is really a treatise presented as a letter but without details about the author or the community as would be in Paul’s letters. Jesus' desire for the apostles to rest underlines our need to avoid burning ourselves out. Friar Jude reminds us that the kings and priests had failed and the Good Shepherd had to teach about Who God is and what He wants of us.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, introduces CAC staff member Drew Jackson who, Inspired by Jesus’ warning to the people of Jerusalem, wrote this poem that honors the cost of prophecy:
There is a lineage of those whose blood fills
the streets
of cities and countrysides—prophets who
have spoken truth
only to find their lips kissed with the blunt
force
of thrown stones. They knew their end
before they began,
and still they continued. Fire in the bones
cannot be contained.
Handcuffs and shackles cannot restrain
their message.
More than by their shouts, we know them by
their tears—
salt dried on their cheeks from years of
endless weeping.
Many of their names have been swept away
by the winds
of history. It is the winners who write the
accounts,
yet the ground bears witness. (Rohr, n.d.)
We ponder our need for rest in turbulent times and surrender to the invitation of Jesus to join in the cloud of witnesses that lead us to still waters and anointing with oil.
References
Hebrews, CHAPTER 13 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Bible Readings. Retrieved February 8, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/hebrews/13?15
Mark, CHAPTER 6 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Bible Readings. Retrieved February 8, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/mark/6?30
Meditation on Hebrews 13:15-17, 20-21. (n.d.). Word Among Us. Retrieved February 8, 2025, from https://wau.org/meditations/2025/02/08/1197703/
Psalms, PSALM 23 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Bible Readings. Retrieved February 8, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/23?1
Rohr, R. (n.d.). The Path of the Prophet: Weekly Summary. CAC Daily Meditations. Retrieved February 8, 2025, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/the-path-of-the-prophet-weekly-summary/
Schwager, D. (n.d.). Come Away and Rest a While. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved February 8, 2025, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2025&date=feb8
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