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Ninth Sunday after Pentecost • Year B
July 21, 2024 • Proper 11
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Historical Collect
Let your merciful ears, O Lord, be open to the prayers of your humble servants; that you may hear our petitions. In all things, help us to ask for what will please you; through your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. (Gelasian Sacramentary, 7th Century)
Thematic Collect
Shepherding God, through your Son’s cross you draw all people to yourself and reconcile the relationship between you and your world which we so carelessly neglect and fracture. Teach us to be your healing and reconciling presence in a wounded world; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God now and forever. Amen.
The Common Thread
Proper feeding of the people, the sheep of God’s pasture (Psalm 100:3), is a primary duty of a pastor or shepherd. The right food is central to that good feeding, so right doctrine is essential. Through correct preaching of the Word, the flock comes to understand that their righteousness comes from the Lord, the great Shepherd of the sheep (Hebrews 13:20). He is the provider, restorer, and deliverer, the one who has reconciled sheep and Shepherd through the cross. Knowledge of this truth brings the sheep to a satisfying table, and to still waters where they may rest in the love of the Shepherd.
First Reading • Jeremiah 23:1-6
God loves his people and wants the best for them. So, when leaders of his people lead them astray, away from the Lord, he will do two things. First, he will deal with the evildoing shepherds, those who have neglected their pastoral duties. Then he will establish good shepherds who will bring God's flock back into his fold. His sheep will be cared for so that they have no more fear. This is fully realized when he sets over his people the messianic king who rules justly. All the people will then be judged according to his righteousness. As their good shepherd is righteous, the people become righteous through his being their shepherd.
Psalm • Psalm 23:1-6
When the sheep have a good shepherd, they have no fear. He leads them to places of rest and plenty. He provides for them. They are always welcome in the fold. When they are lost and out of the fold, he is with them. Even when his sheep are under the shadow of death, the good shepherd is present and takes away their fear of evil.
Second Reading • Ephesians 2:11-22
Once we were not a people but now we are the people of God. (1Pet 2:9) Once we were not the people of God but through the redeeming sacrifice of Christ, we have been brought near to God. As such, God becomes our peace instead of the keeping of religious laws. All people are reconciled to God through the cross and have access to him through faith. We are being built up upon the cornerstone who is Christ, and the foundation that is the apostles and prophets, into a holy dwelling for God. The Spirit of God now dwells among us, and even within us.
Gospel • Mark 6:30-44
The work of the ministry, the work of the Church, is never done. There is always one more thing to accomplish. Sometimes those things need to be put on hold. One needs to entrust them to God and get away for awhile. When once in retreat, even there the ministry of Jesus continues. No matter how far away you go, someone will need fed. Someone else will need prayer. Still another will simply want to be near the fellowship of the Lord. At such times, it is good to remember that it is Christ, not we, who feed. It is the Spirit who intercedes. They do not want to be near us but instead, near the one with whom we have retreated.
Resources
Links to Worship Resources for this Service
