The Sixth Sunday after Trinity

Friends in Christ,

He has . . . broken down the dividing wall, that is, the hostility between us. (Ephesians 2:14)
Breaking down walls: That’s what Jesus has always been about. In today’s first reading, Jeremiah strongly condemns Israel’s political and religious leaders who have “scattered my flock, and have driven them away” (Jeremiah 23:2-3). And in Mark 6:30-34 , Jesus gathers together the people of Israel, foreshadowing a time when we will all be one people, healed of all division and everything that isolates us from each other.
These Scripture readings all invite us to ask whether we align ourselves with the Good Shepherd who unites or with the self-serving who divide and scatter. For instance, when given a position of leadership, how hard do we work at reconciling differing viewpoints and overcoming the mistrust that arises from unfamiliarity? Do we help members of a group listen patiently to each other? For example, it may not be clear how our parish should serve the poor, but we can still find a common commitment to reach out to Jesus in the least of his brethren.
What can we do to break down the walls of hostility in our world? We can pray. We can intercede. We can ask Jesus to overcome the barriers that separate us. We can ask him to mend every broken fence. Today let’s all pray for Christian unity between denominations. Let’s ask the Lord to break down every division that exists between husband and wife and between parent and child. Let’s ask the Lord to unite our parish and form us into a bright light to our community.
None of these prayers is unreasonable because they all spring from Jesus’ own prayer that we all be one—united as intimately as he is with his heavenly Father. We can trust that as soon as each of us is fully reconciled to the Father, all hostility can come to an end, and peace can reign once more.
“Father, I come to you confessing my part in creating division. Forgive me, and show me the way to live as your child, both receiving and offering your reconciliation.”
Jeremiah 23:1-6; Psalm 23:1-6; Mark 6:30-34

As we are standing again at the beginning of another working week, may I wishin you God's blessing on all you undertake.

Ed Bakker