First Reading | Hebrews 13:15-17, 20-21
The Letter to the Hebrews concludes with important exhortations about living a happy, fruitful, and holy life. Obedience is a must for a Christian and is essential to following God’s will. Even Jesus was obedient to the Father. Goodness is the fruit of a life lived according to the Gospel. Let us pray for the humility to embrace God’s will and accept His gifts necessary to fulfill our call.
15 Brothers and sisters: Through Jesus, let us continually offer God a sacrifice of praise, that is, the fruit of lips that confess his name. 16 Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have; God is pleased by sacrifices of that kind. 17 Obey your leaders and defer to them, for they keep watch over you and will have to give an account, that they may fulfill their task with joy and not with sorrow, for that would be of no advantage to you. 20 May the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great shepherd of the sheep by the Blood of the eternal covenant, Jesus our Lord, 21 furnish you with all that is good, that you may do his will. May he carry out in you what is pleasing to him through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
Responsorial Psalm | Psalm 23:1-3, 3-4, 5, 6
R: The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 In verdant pastures he gives me repose. Beside restful waters he leads me; 3 he refreshes my soul. (R) He guides me in right paths for his name’s sake. 4 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) 5 You spread the table before me in the sight of my foes. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. (R) 6 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)
Gospel | Mark 6:30-34
Jesus retires to a quiet place to be with His disciples and reflect on their recent experiences. Socrates advises us to reflect on our lives, draw the lessons we need to learn, and integrate these in our way of life. Reflection is an essential aspect of living as Jesus’ disciples. God speaks His truth in our hearts during quiet moments of prayer and reflection.
Gospel Acclamation
My sheep hear my voice, says the Lord; I know them, and they follow me.
30 The Apostles gathered together with Jesus and reported all they had done and taught. 31 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. 32 So they went off in the boat by themselves to a deserted place. 33 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. 34 When Jesus 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.
