16th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Jeremiah 23:1-6 (JB)

A reading from the prophet Jeremiah

The remnant of the flock I will gather to me, and bring them back to their pastures.

‘Doom for the shepherds who allow the flock of my pasture to be destroyed and scattered – it is the Lord who speaks! This, therefore, is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says about the shepherds in charge of my people: You have let my flock be scattered and go wandering and have not taken care of them. Right, I will take care of you for your misdeeds – it is the Lord who speaks! But the remnant of my flock I myself will gather from all the countries where I have dispersed them, and will bring them back to their pastures: they shall be fruitful and increase in numbers. I will raise up shepherds to look after them and pasture them; no fear, no terror for them any more; not one shall be lost – it is the Lord who speaks!

‘See the days are coming – it is the Lord who speaks –

when I will raise a virtuous Branch for David,

who will reign as true king and be wise,

practising honesty and integrity in the land.

In his days Judah will be saved

and Israel dwell in confidence.

and this is the name he will be called:

The Lord-our-integrity.’

The word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

Jeremiah 23:1-6 (NRSV)

A reading from the book of the prophet Jeremiah

“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 shepherd my people:

It is you who have scattered my flock,

and have driven them away,

and you have not attended to them.

“So I will attend to you for your evil doings,”

says the Lord.

“Then I myself will gather the remnant of my flock

out of all the lands where I have driven them,

and I will bring them back to their fold,

I will raise up shepherds over them who will shepherd them,

and they shall not fear any longer, or be dismayed,

nor shall any be missing,” says the Lord.

“The days are surely 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 live in safety.

And this is the name by which he will be called:

“The Lord is our righteousness.”

The word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

Ps 22 (JB)

R. The Lord is my shepherd;

there is nothing I shall want.

The Lord is my shepherd;

there is nothing I shall want.

Fresh and green are the pastures

where he gives me repose.

Near restful waters he leads me,

to revive my drooping spirit. R.

He guides me along the right path;

he is true to his name.

If I should walk in the valley of darkness

no evil would I fear.

You are there with your crook and your staff;

with these you give me comfort. R.

You have prepared a banquet for me

in the sight of my foes.

My head you have anointed with oil;

my cup is overflowing. R.

Surely goodness and kindness shall follow me

all the days of my life.

In the Lord’s own house shall I dwell

for ever and ever. R.

Ephesians 2:13-18 (JB)

A reading from the letter of St Paul to the Ephesians

Christ, our peace, has made us one.

In Christ Jesus, you that used to be so far from us have been brought very close, by the blood of Christ. For he is the peace between us, and has made the two into one and broken down the barrier which used to keep them apart, actually destroying in his own person the hostility caused by the rules and decrees of the Law. This was to create one single New Man in himself out of the two of them and by restoring peace through the cross, to unite them both in a single Body and reconcile them with God. In his own person he killed the hostility. Later he came to bring the good news of peace, peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near at hand. Through him, both of us have in the one Spirit our way to come to the Father.

The word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

Ephesians 2:13-18 (NRSV)

A reading from the letter of Paul to the Ephesians

Now in Christ Jesus

you who once were far off have been brought near

by the blood of Christ.

For he is our peace;

in his flesh he has made both Jews and Gentiles into one

and has broken down the dividing wall,

that is, the hostility between us.

He has abolished the law with its commandments and ordinances,

that he might create in himself

one new humanity in place of the two, thus making peace,

and might reconcile both groups to God in one body

through the cross,

thus putting to death that hostility through it.

So Christ Jesus came and proclaimed peace to you who were far off

and peace to those who were near;

for through him both of us have access in one Spirit to the Father.

The word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

John 10:27 (JB)

Alleluia, alleluia!

My sheep listen to my voice, says the Lord;

I know them, and they follow me.

Alleluia!

John 10:27 (NRSV)

Alleluia, alleluia!

My sheep listen to my voice, says the Lord;

I know them, and they follow me.

Alleluia!

Mark 6:30-34 (JB)

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark

They were as sheep without a shepherd.

The apostles rejoined Jesus and told him all they had done and taught. Then he said to them, ‘You must come away to some lonely place all by yourselves and rest for a while’; for there were so many coming and going that the apostles had no time even to eat. So they went off in a boat to a lonely place where they could be by themselves. But people saw them going, and many could guess where; and from every town they all hurried to the place on foot and reached it before them. So as he stepped ashore he saw a large crowd; and he took pity on them because they were like sheep without a shepherd, and he set himself to teach them at some length.

The Gospel of the Lord.

Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

Mark 6:30-34 (NRSV)

A reading from the holy gospel according to Mark

The apostles returned from their mission.

They gathered around Jesus,

and told him all that they had done and taught.

He said to them,

“Come away to a deserted place all by yourselves 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 deserted place by themselves.

Now many saw them going and recognized them,

and they hurried there on foot from all the towns

and arrived ahead of them.

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.

The Gospel of the Lord.

Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.