Proper 11

Today’s Topic - The Flock Gathered

Fickenscher’s summary: The Lord Jesus Shepherds His Church on Earth by the Ministry of the Gospel

The Lord rebukes and removes “the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep” (Jer. 23:1). He gathers the flock, brings them back to the fold, and sets “shepherds over them who will care for them” (Jer. 23:3–4). He raises up the Son of David, the great Good Shepherd, to “reign as king and deal wisely” (Jer. 23:5). He is “our righteousness,” in whom we “dwell securely” (Jer. 23:6). He has compassion on all of us, who were “like sheep without a shepherd” (Mark 6:34). Not only does He teach us many things, but taking the bread, He blesses and breaks and gives it to the disciples “to set before the people” (Mark 6:41). He abundantly provides for His Church on earth, so that everyone is fed and fully satisfied in body and soul. He preaches peace “to you who were far off,” and “by the blood of Christ,” He brings you near (Eph. 2:13, 17). Though you were “separated from Christ” by your sin, “having no hope and without God in the world” (Eph. 2:12), now “you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God” (Eph. 2:19).

Jer 23.1-6

Jeremiah 23:1–6 RSVCE

“Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture!” says the Lord. Therefore thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, concerning the shepherds who care for my people: “You have scattered my flock, and have driven them away, and you have not attended to them. Behold, I will attend to you for your evil doings, says the Lord. Then I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all the countries where I have driven them, and I will bring them back to their fold, and they shall be fruitful and multiply. I will set shepherds over them who will care for them, and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall any be missing, says the Lord. “Behold, the days are 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. In his days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely. And this is the name by which he will be called: ‘The Lord is our righteousness.’

notes: Yahweh assigns new good shepherds who will do their job, loving and tending the flock even when it means self-sacrifice

Psa 23

Psalm 23 RSVCE

A Psalm of David. The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want; he makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters; he restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil; for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of my enemies; thou anointest my head with oil, my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

notes: Of course the whole focus today is on shepherds, but we have the promise that Y will lead us in paths of righteousness. If you were a Pharisee in Jesus’ day, you would have that desire to please the Lord, but grace working in some would help them see Jesus’ message and that salvation is in the Messiah, not in their being able to keep the Law. They would have known the somewhat hidden message of the prophets, passages written hundreds of years before, now all these passages will come to life. Some of the leading Jews and Pharisees did accept Jesus’ teaching.

Eph 2.11-22

Ephesians 2:11–22 RSVCE

Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called the uncircumcision by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands— remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near in the blood of Christ. For he is our peace, who has made us both one, and has broken down the dividing wall of hostility, by abolishing in his flesh the law of commandments and ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby bringing the hostility to an end. And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near; for through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and sojourners, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord; in whom you also are built into it for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.

Being brought together doesn’t mean we give up our ethnic traditions, all the passage is asserting (and it is supremely important but still good to see that it says this one thing and not more) is that both Jews and Gentiles have equal access to salvation, the Jews in the most important sense (sin, lost, in need of a Savior) are not different from anyone else.

Mar 6.30-34, 53-56

Mark 6:30–34 RSVCE

The apostles returned to Jesus, and told him all that they had done and taught. And he said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a lonely place, and rest a while.” For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. And they went away in the boat to a lonely place by themselves. Now many saw them going, and knew them, and they ran there on foot from all the towns, and got there ahead of them. As he went ashore he saw a great throng, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things.

Mark 6:53–56 RSVCE

And when they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret, and moored to the shore. And when they got out of the boat, immediately the people recognized him, and ran about the whole neighborhood and began to bring sick people on their pallets to any place where they heard he was. And wherever he came, in villages, cities, or country, they laid the sick in the market places, and besought him that they might touch even the fringe of his garment; and as many as touched it were made well.

notes: two times where Jesus and the disciples get in a boat, go to another place, and people find out where they are headed and gather there. We don’t read the feeding of the 5000 (really could be easily 15,000) because that is saved for another Sunday. Even without that part read, we are able to remember the “sheep without a shepherd” part and not be “blinded” by the miracle of the loaves and fishes.

This (the lectionary cutting out parts) is not a way of telling Mark “you blew it when you edited this because the Feeding of the 5000 is so attention grabbing” it is a realization of what the mind usually processes. Think of the happiest day of your life or the most momentous day, there is the main thing, and there are many other things, very important second things.