The Day I Ran Away

16th Ordinary Sunday

I remember when I was very young, I was playing in the playground when I suddenly decided to run away from my mother. It caused her a lot a panic as she started to call out for me and for others to help; it caused alarm among the people around too. Luckily, a lady held on to me and stopped me from running away any further, returning me to my mom and the remedying the situation.

(Well, mum still reminds me about the incident whever I upset her now.)

Well, after today’s homily, I realised that the readings could be applied to this very situation. The main focus in today’s readings is on how Jesus is the Good Shepherd. Much like the lady who restrained me, whenever one of his sheep go astray, he finds them, holds on to them, and brings them back to the fold. And in today’s Gospel, Jesus saw a large crowd and “had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began teach them many things” (Mark 6:34).

The First Reading talks about bad shepherds who separate the sheep from their flock, much like what happens in today’s world. The separation of migrant families who seek refuge is a perfect example of the bad shepherds “who destroy and scatter the flock”, and the Lord warns of a reckoning for those involved in such “evil doings”, even as He promises “shepherds…who will care” for lost sheep (Jeremiah 23:1-2, 4).

The Second Reading also talks about those who “once were far off” – separated from the flock – now brought back together by the grace of God and, through his sacrifice, reconciled “to God in one body through the cross” (Ephesians 2:13, 16).

I suppose, at some point in our lives, we all run away from something or other – out of mischief, anger, fear, etc. We may even run to the point when we are so lost, it seems impossible to find our way back. But there is a way back – via prayer and our faith in Jesus, our Good shepherd, “for through him we…have access in one Spirit to the Father” (Ephesians 2:18).

- by Zachary Wong, 15