An Exegetical Reflection on the Gospel of the 16th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B, Mark 6:30-34, July 22, 2012
SOON AFTER THE Second World
War, we saw the emergence of various forms of division. The partition of Berlin into East and West
was a microcosm of the political division between Socialism and
Capitalism. The fantastic wealth of the
First World countries is morally difficult to reconcile with the poverty of the
Third World, and the economic gulf between them is wider than ever. In the Bible, sin is described in various
ways, and one of the common descriptions is that it is a separation of man from
God and of man from his fellowmen. But
if men have become divided, it is because they separated themselves from
God. The story of the Tower of Babel
demonstrates how the sin of pride can result in the almost infinite divisions
of men and women and the scattering of humanity (Gen 11:9)
What causes the division and scattering
of women and men? Various are the
factors, but even to date, one who looks at the problem theologically can be
almost certain that, among others, it comes from shepherds who separated
themselves from God, and who, for that very reason, failed in the task of
leading and guiding the people. Thus, King
Zedekiah separated himself from God by not governing the people with wisdom and
(economic and political) justice; so they were scattered and exiled to Babylon
(Jer 23:2). This recalls God’s word to
Ezekiel in the parable of the shepherd: “Woe to the shepherds of Israel who
have been pasturing themselves!… You
have fed off their milk, worn their wool, and slaughtered the fatlings, but the
sheep you have not pastured… You did not bring back the strayed nor seek the lost,
but you lorded it over them harshly and brutally. So they were scattered for lack of a
shepherd, and became food for all the wild beasts”(Ezek 34:3-6). In separating themselves from God, leaders
then make a god out of themselves, and become attached to whatever pertain to
their selves—greed, power, aggrandizement, privileges. All their manifestations
of love for people are merely for show; their obverse is the King’s greed.
But God’s will is not division; rather,
it is atonement—that is to say, at-one-ment: to bring people in union with Gold
and with men. Thus the prophecy of Jer
23:4: Ï myself will gather the remnant of my flock from all the lands to which
I have driven them and bring them back to the 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.” This
prophecy is fulfilled in Jesus. In the
gospel today, Jesus took pity on the people and, unlike Zedekiah, took the role
of a shepherd. How is it fulfilled? In the gospel, Jesus feed them with the
word. According to the 2nd
Reading, he removed the barrier of hostility (the Law) that kept people apart,
and reconciled them into one body through the cross, his death (Eph
2:15-16). In other words, Jesus not only
took care of his people, but he also died from them so that they could become
one people of God.
Today, there is still much division; indeed, it has even
multiplied. The political division
between Capitalism and Socialism continues, despite the fall of the Russian
Empire and the death of Mao Tse-Tung.
The economic gulf between the Wealthy and Powerful Countries and the
Poor and Weak—but euphemistically described as Developing—Countries remains
unbridgeable. The cultural rift between
the Colored and the White continues to baffle us, despite the recognition that
all are equal, since others still feel they are more equal than others. And quarrels of religions have not stopped,
for all the inter-religious dialogue and ecumenism. These aside, we have to add the division in
our own country, in our homes, and among friends. Even so, as followers of Christ, we are
called to assume the role of shepherds.
By our word and life, and more so by our death, we have the vocation to
do our human part in the reconciliation of man with God, which is the
reconciliation between individuals, families, and countries. God has called us to be instruments of
reconciliation. The will of God, as already
noted, is unity. As shepherds, it is
incumbent upon us to abolish what keep us apart.
This exhortation is specially addressed
to Christian leaders. There is always
much temptation for leaders to give priority to their own position and power
rather than to service. Both position
and power corrupt them. And the higher the position and the enormous the power,
the bigger the opportunities to be corrupt.
Sometimes, they become blind to the needs of the people and to the
truth; greed, aggrandizement, power and privileges make them blind. Not
surprisingly, some are interested in giving rewards to flatterers, sycophants,
and admirers, and they knock down those who disagree with them—that is to say,
those who tell the truth. They are
tempted to give importance to their own pockets, rather than the welfare of the
people. And so, the consequences are
clearly recognizable: we do not progress as much as we have to, we are back to
square one, and remain a divided country.
But Christian leaders have to make a difference. They can set examples of shepherding and even
offer themselves for crucifixion.
Indeed, Christian leaders embrace death, if not literally, surely
figuratively--death to power, greed, self-aggrandizement, corruption, and lying
to and fooling people; in other words, selfishness. Without this death, people will remain
divided, and cannot be saved from their sordid lot. Christ left us that example. Though he was rich, because his is the
universe, yet he came to us as a poor shepherd.
He rejected power, and made it clear that greed is the root of evil; he
owned nothing, not even a house, and freed himself from anything that corrupts
the mind and soul. He told the truth,
and was so selfless that he even accepted death so we can all have life in him.
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