“ . . . [Jesus] saw a great crowd; and he had compassion for them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd . . . ” (Mark 6:34).
The Gospel passage focuses on the enthusiastic response to Jesus as a compassionate healer and teacher. As the reading begins, (Mk. 6:30-34), the twelve disciples have just returned from their missionary journey. Earlier Jesus had sent them out two by two with authority to proclaim the message of repentance, to heal the sick and to cast out demons (cf Mk. 6:7-13).
As they gathered around Jesus to tell him about their experiences, Jesus perceived that they were worn out from their travels—because of the crowds, they could not even find time to eat. Thus they go off in a boat to a “deserted place” for a time of rest (6:31).
Nonetheless, the people followed them on foot, and Jesus and the disciples had scarcely disembarked before they were surrounded by eager followers. As Jesus looked out over the crowd, “he had compassion for them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd” (v. 34). Here the word “compassion” (cf Mk. 1:41; 8:2; 9:22) is used in the sense of merciful love. The image of sheep without a shepherd reflects the Old Testament understanding of God as shepherd (Num. 27:17; Ezek. 34:14-15; Is. 40:11; Ps. 23).
Rather than seeing the crowd as an unwelcome intrusion on his privacy and time alone with his disciples, Jesus used this as an opportunity. The people were hungry for the truth he could impart, and he began to teach them. Here we see that Jesus is always available to respond to the needs of those around him and will change his intended course of action when necessary.
In the intervening verses not included for today (vv. 35-52), Jesus’ compassion is further demonstrated by the feeding of the five thousand, followed by the story of Jesus walking on the water. After these two events, the second part of today’s reading (vv. 53-56) provides a summary of Jesus’ ministry and activities as a transition to the next section.
Once again, as Jesus and the disciples disembarked, they were surrounded by throngs of people who brought their sick to him for healing. Wherever he went, the response was the same. People begged just to touch the fringe of his garment, and “all who touched it were healed” (v. 56; cf Mk 5:27-29). The eager acceptance of Jesus’ ministry here is in marked contrast to his experience in Nazareth, where he “could do no deed of power” (Mk. 6:5).
“So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are citizens with the saints and also members of the household of God . . .” (Eph. 2:19).
For the next few weeks the Epistle readings are from Ephesians. Although traditionally attributed to Paul, it is more likely that an apostle of Paul wrote the letter after Paul’s death. Unlike many of the other letters, Ephesians is not directed towards a specific community in response to a particular issue or conflict and would have been distributed to several churches throughout
Asia Minor. Today’s passage which focuses on the theme of unity seems especially appropriate for our deeply divided world today.
Just as the love of the Lord is expressed through Jesus’ compassion toward those in need, the letter to the Ephesians speaks of God’s promise of unity that is made available through Christ to everyone—Jew and Gentile alike. This new spiritual community is built on the foundation of the Apostles and prophets with Jesus as the cornerstone.
Through Christ the barriers between Jew and Gentile have been abolished as all are brought together in the fullness of God’s peace. The distinction between the circumcised and the uncircumcised concerns only the physical aspect. Jesus draws the alienated to God and unites the covenant people with those previously outside the covenant.
Christ has proclaimed peace to those on both sides of that division and has broken down previous walls of hostility. Therefore, all can be united with God through the Spirit poured out upon the whole community of Jesus’ disciples. Now there is reconciliation with “one new humanity in place of the two” (v. 15).
Because of Jesus Christ, no one is a stranger or alien in the household of God, which “is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord” (2:21). We too have a share in this dwelling place as we grow together spiritually through the love of God in Christ.
“His line shall continue forever, and his throne endure before me like the sun” (Psalm 89:36).
As the saga of King David continues to unfold, David’s foreign enemies have been defeated and Israel is united. With his kingdom secure, David proposed to the Prophet Nathan that the Ark of the Covenant be given a permanent home. “See now, I am living in a house of cedar, but the ark of God stays in a tent” (2 Sam. 7:2). Initially Nathan concurred with David’s plans; but at night the Lord spoke to Nathan and rejected David’s notion of building a house for the Lord.
The Ark itself had gone before the Hebrews during their wilderness journey (Num. 10:33), and was a manifestation of God’s presence. The Lord had always moved freely among the people of Israel and never desired or commanded that a permanent dwelling be built for the Ark. Instead, God promised to build a house for David; but this would be a house in the sense of a dynasty rather than a palace.
From the time when David was a shepherd of his father’s flocks until he was made shepherd over Israel, the Lord was always with him, and David’s enemies were vanquished. Now the Lord promised that Israel would have its own land secure from its enemies (vv. 10-11a); and David would be given a name “like the name of the great ones of the earth” (v. 9). David’s descendants would continue his kingdom and “build a house for my name” (v. 13). Thus the house—dynasty—of David would continue forever and be in relationship with God as a son is to a father (vv. 13b-14).
The text uses the word “house” in several different contexts to refer to David’s cedar palace (v. 2); the temple that David proposed to build to house the Ark (vv. 5-7); the dynasty of David’s descendants (v. 11); and the temple that would one day be built by David’s heir, Solomon (v. 13). The temple would not be built by David because he had fought many wars; however, his son Solomon was a man of peace (1 Chron. 22:6-10).
Thus David’s dynasty was assured of God’s continued favor—and God’s presence in Israel was not to be tied directly to the Ark, but to God’s messianic promises through David. This marks a significant shift in Israel’s theological understanding as Israel moves from a nomadic tribal culture to a more settled and unified nation.
In this passage, the Prophet Nathan appears for the first time as he brings word to David that the Lord wishes to build a house—i. e., a royal dynasty—for David. Here we see that Nathan can be trusted to speak the truth through God.
David’s desire to build a temple to house the Ark was well-intended, but as Nathan pointed out, the Lord had a different vision. I think this story has ramifications for us today as our congregations expend great amounts of time and energy on multi-million dollar building fund campaigns. We have a responsibility for the physical upkeep of our buildings; however, our buildings may become objects of worship rather than places of worship. What the Lord requires is “to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with [our] God” (Micah 6:8). What matters is what we do outside our buildings—how we live out our faith in the world. What if every dollar contributed to a building fund was matched for outreach and meeting the needs in our communities?
All of today’s readings reflect the steadfast love of God, whether through the promises made to David and Israel, through the breaking down of barriers in Ephesians, or through the compassionate ministry of Jesus. Thus we are assured of God’s enduring presence as we strive to follow the example of Jesus by serving others with love and compassion.
Readings for Proper 11-B: 2 Samuel 7:1-14a; Psalm 89:20-37; Ephesians 2:11-22; Mark 6:30-34, 53-56.
This reflection is adapted from Circle of Days: A Church Year Primer – Year B by Paula Franck and Isabel Anders available in print and ebook formats from Amazon.com.