Matthew 13:24-43

St. Paul tells the Christian that Jesus has gathered all peoples into the one fold of God. Jesus has done this the hard way-by shedding His blood and giving His life for us and for our unity. Through Jesus the Shepherd, we now may enjoy real and lasting peace, the peace of people untied to one another and united in God.

The Gospel is a brief touching account of how the good Shepherd acts. Jesus’ apostles had just returned from their journey. Surely they had much to tell Him, much to ask. Surely Jesus had much to say. So Jesus takes His apostles away to be alone with them. The crowd follows them. Upon seeing the crowd of people, Jesus is filled with compassion. So “He began to teach them at great length.”

What Jesus does with the crowd gives us a hint at what He sees to be the heart of Shepherding: namely, Jesus begins to teach them. For Jesus, catechesis, sharing the good news, is the Shepherd’s primary task. In His teaching (which is later confirmed by miracles), Jesus gathers the crowd of lost sheep.

In a very special way, today’s liturgy celebrates gathering, it celebrates what it means to be one, to be together. Only in Christ Jesus, only with Jesus as our Shepherd, can we call ourselves “gathered.” Only when we gather on Sunday, in His name, are what we say we are: God’s own people, the flock the Lord tends. That is why our Sunday gathering is so important. Without that gathering, no one of us can claim to be called “Christian.” We cannot be sheep of the Shepherd without being part of the mass-the great memorial of the life of Jesus. This is the primary teaching experience.

Give some thought to spending some unhurried time in preparation for mass next Sunday. Welcome next Sunday with a special prayer on Saturday night. Plan ahead so you won’t be rushed in getting to church. Plan to spend some quiet time in prayer before the blessed sacrament on the first Friday of each month. Come early to experience God’s presence. Remember we’re sheep of the same pasture and Jesus visits us, Shepherd us, and instruct us in the Eucharist.

Fr. Hugh Duffy