Holy Cross Monastery, West Park, NY
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In the name of God, the Creator, the Liberator and the Comforter.
Today’s gospel lection brings together two segments of Mark chapter 6 that frame more prominent episodes of Jesus’ ministry: the feeding of the 5,000 and the walking on water and calming of the storm. So, you’re missing the exciting bits today.
Today’s segments illustrate Jesus’ relationship to crowds. In the first instance, in the wilderness, he teaches them. In the second instance, back in Gennesaret, he heals their sick.
But before we go there, let me get something out of the way. All of my life, I have felt like I was missing a lot of points whenever the image of sheep and/or shepherds were used. Jesus’ audiences were way more familiar to sheep herding than we are. Pastoralists were everywhere to be seen with their flocks sometimes near and often in-between towns.
So, humor me. Here is “sheep and shepherds 101.”
Sheep or shepherds are mentioned over 1200 times throughout the bible. Obviously, this was a meaningful teaching image to the Israelites of Jesus’ time and centuries before that.
Sheep have been domesticated for over 10,000 years. Their domestication started in the Middle East which is the bible’s geographical context.
Over the time of their domestication, sheep lost the ability to self-regulate their flocking behavior. Small herds of wild sheep still can move about large landscapes in search of fresh grazing on their own. And they shed their coats naturally.
But domesticated sheep do not have natural leaders. They rely on the shepherd for leadership. Sheep recognize face, voice and smell of other sheep and of humans. So it is that a shepherd and his flock develop a symbiotic relationship. The shepherd keeps moving his flock, so it does not over-graze any one area of pasture. The shepherd develops calls that the sheep can interpret. Another human voice does not register in the same way.
Not only will sheep, left to their own device, over-graze an area; but individual sheep will wander away towards danger, possibly gathering a following. The shepherd keeps the flock together. When a sheep wanders regardless, the shepherd can go find it and bring it back.
Sheep can lie down and get stuck in hollows in the terrain with their legs sticking up, unable to reestablish a standing position. Shepherds can give stuck sheep a leg up.
Domesticated sheep do not shed their wool and need to be regularly shorn.
As you can see, for their own safety and wellness, domesticated sheep can no longer be left to their own devices.
There, now you can go seek employment as shepherdesses and shepherds now.
The first part of today’s gospel lection talks about Jesus’ plan for him and the disciples after they come back from having gone on mission in pairs. They have worked hard and done wonders by the grace of Jesus while they were away. They are tired and would like to get quality time with Jesus to tell each other more about their mission trip.
Jesus, who understands the necessity for time away from the press of ministry to recharge in rest and prayer, makes a great suggestion. Let’s cross the lake and land in a wilderness where we can be on our own and renew our strength.
But by then, the crowds have become like the Swifties who track singer Taylor Swift’s jets online to know where she will be when. The crowds are hungry for Jesus’ teaching and healing. Some keen observers spot Jesus and his disciples getting in a boat and figure out where it is headed. The rumor spreads and enterprising fans of Jesus head that way by land, apparently making faster progress than Jesus’ boat.
“As Jesus went ashore, he saw a great crowd; and he had compassion for them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things.”
And there flounders the apostles’ hope for rest and recreation. Another sermon on this lection will need to focus on healthy boundaries in ministry to ensure resilience and durability. But we won’t go there today.
The operative phrase here is “he had compassion for them.” This is the essence of Jesus’ divinity. He sees the human condition. And as the dictionary defines compassion, He has sympathetic pity and concern for the sufferings and misfortunes of others.
Jesus will consistently show that compassion throughout his ministry and up to his crucifixion.
The other salient phrase in this first part of our lection is:
“… because they were like sheep without a shepherd …”
Now you know in what jeopardy is a flock of sheep without a shepherd. Jesus sees the crowds and understands he can’t shirk his vocation to lead them by teaching them.
We are not all called to be teachers, but we can be witnesses to gospel values in how we live our lives amidst the other members of the flock. The way we behave in the world speaks volumes about our values.
Jesus puts compassion before his immediate self-interest (a well-deserved rest with his best friends). How compassionate are we in our everyday lives?
The second part of today’s lection tells the story of Jesus and his disciples returning to an urban spot of the sea of Galilee; the town of Gennesaret and its surroundings.
They are back on the mission trail. There is no avoiding the crowds this time. Even going to a wilderness failed to achieve that.
Here again, people recognize Jesus as soon as they moor the boat. Word of mouth travels like dandelion seeds in the wind. And people rushed about the whole region to bring Him their lame and sick. Jesus does not subtract himself to the pressure of his ministry. Many manage to touch him and that is sufficient for them to be healed.
Jesus’ compassion led him time and again to meet the needs of his flock whether that be teaching or healing.
We may not be miracle-workers, but we can all have a healing effect on those around us.
Has a sympathetic hand on your shoulder or your forearm ever lightened your concern or pain? Has a loving hug from a friend or a relative ever soothed you? Has a kind smile ever lifted your spirits?
We can all do that, and more, given the right circumstances. Look out for opportunities to be a healer among those you live with and encounter.
We may not all be shepherds, but we can find ways to exercise our compassion for fellow sheep. And whenever we need leadership, look up to the Good Shepherd for guidance. May he lead you to green pastures.
Amen.
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