Sunday, July 22, 2018

The familiar image of the Good Shepherd pervades our readings today. The prophet Jeremiah reminds the leaders of God’s people that they have wandered far from the vision God had for them. Instead of acting as true shepherds caring for God’s flock, they have “scattered the flock of my pasture.” Consequently, God presents a vision for the future in which the remnant of God’s flock will be gathered together “from all the lands to which I have driven them.” God promises to bring them together with a true shepherd guiding them to live in peace.

Paul proclaims that Christ Jesus went farther in fulfilling this vision by uniting all humanity in Christ Jesus, who is, as Paul says, “our peace, who made all one and broke down the dividing wall of enmity” among all people.

The Responsorial Psalm, “The Lord is my Shepherd,” is a beautiful commentary on how God’s care shepherds God’s people “near restful waters” and guides them “in right paths.” These images are continued in the Gospel account where Jesus prepares to teach and feed the crowd who are “like sheep without a shepherd.”

When Jesus looks on the crowds as “sheep without a shepherd,” the scene acts as a prelude to the miracle of the feeding of the five thousand that we will hear next Sunday. Jesus’ feelings for God’s people are captured so graphically when Mark says, “His heart was moved with pity for them.” The heart conveys the very depths of the love, compassion, and mercy that Jesus has for those He has come to lead back to His Father.

We are the sheep of His flock. The Lord continues to care for us in the Eucharist where He shepherds us, instructs us, nourishes us. At Home with the Word.

In His love and mine,

Fr. Ken

In the Spring of 1988, Bishop William D. Keeler formed a new parish to accommodate the rapid growth in Silver Spring Township and named Reverend James R. O’Brien as the founding pastor. That same year, Mother Katharine Drexel was beatified by Pope John Paul, II. At Bishop Keeler’s request, the Holy Father gave his permission to name the Parish in Silver Spring Township as the first parish in the world to be named in her honor. Eighteen years later, on October 1, 2000, Blessed Katharine Drexel was canonized and the church’s name changed to Saint Katharine Drexel.

The Saint Katharine Drexel Parish Family, guided by the Holy Spirit, commits itself to reaching out and sharing with all people the love and service modeled by our patroness, with the Eucharist as our source of strength. Through prayer and action, we will serve God, our Lord and Savior, and our community, exhibiting a special concern for the poor, oppressed and marginalized of our society, especially those among the African-American & Native-American peoples.