Sixteenth Sunday Ordinary Time
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Mass Readings
First Reading – Jer 23:1-6
Woe to the shepherds who mislead and scatter the flock of my pasture, says the LORD. Therefore, thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, against the shepherds who shepherd my people: You have scattered my sheep and driven them away. You have not cared for them, but I will take care to punish your evil deeds. I myself will gather the remnant of my flock from all the lands to which I have driven them and bring them back to their meadow; there they shall increase and multiply. I will appoint shepherds for them who will shepherd them so that they need no longer fear and tremble; and none shall be missing, says the LORD. Behold, the days are coming, says the LORD, when I will raise up a righteous shoot to David; as king he shall reign and govern wisely, he shall do what is just and right in the land. In his days Judah shall be saved, Israel shall dwell in security. This is the name they give him: “The LORD our justice.”
Responsorial Psalm – Ps 23:1-3, 3-4, 5, 6 (R.1)
R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
he LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
In verdant pastures he gives me repose;
beside restful waters he leads me;
he refreshes my soul. R.
He guides me in right paths
for his name’s sake.
Even though I walk in the dark valley
I fear no evil; for you are at my side
with your rod and your staff
that give me courage. R.
You spread the table before me
in the sight of my foes;
you anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows. R.
Only goodness and kindness follow me
all the days of my life;
and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD
for years to come. R.
Second Reading – Eph 2:13-18
Brothers and sisters: In Christ Jesus you who once were far off have become near by the blood of Christ. For he is our peace, he who made both one and broke down the dividing wall of enmity, through his flesh, abolishing the law with its commandments and legal claims, that he might create in himself one new person in place of the two, thus establishing peace, and might reconcile both with God, in one body, through the cross, putting that enmity to death by it. He came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near, for through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father.
Gospel – Mk 6:30-34
The apostles gathered together with Jesus and reported all they had done and taught. He said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.” People were coming and going in great numbers, and they had no opportunity even to eat. So they went off in the boat by themselves to a deserted place. People saw them leaving and many came to know about it. They hastened there on foot from all the towns and arrived at the place before them. When he disembarked and saw the vast crowd, his heart was moved with pity for them, for they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things.
Featured Saints
St. Lawrence of Brindisi, priest and Doctor of the Church (+1619). Capuchin monk from Italy, who governed various provinces of his Order and acted as Papal legate on numerous diplomatic missions. Sent to Austria and Bohemia where he was an untiring preacher against the errors of Protestantism, and was appointed as the head chaplain of the imperial army, in battle against the invading Turks. He is hailed as “Doctor Apostolicus”.
St. Simeon Salos, hermit († fourth century). While on pilgrimage in the Holy Land, he felt called to abandon the world and withdraw to a hermitic solitude.
Blessed Gabriel Pergaud, priest and martyr (†1794). Canon Regular of St. Augustine; he was taken from the Abbey of Beaulieu during the French Revolution and imprisoned in a galley in Rochefort, where he died in inhumane conditions.
St. Alberic Crescitelli, priest and martyr (†190 0). Member of the Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions, cruelty killed close to Yangxian, in the Province of Shaanxi (China).
St. Joseph Wang Yumei, martyr (†1900). Imprisoned, beaten and beheaded for proclaiming his Faith, during the Boxer persecution in China.
St. Praxedes, virgin (†circa 491). Said to be the daughter of the Roman Senator Pudens, who was converted by St. Peter. The Basilica in Esquilino is named after her.
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