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(Jer.23:1-6;\xa0\xa0 Ps.23:1-6;\xa0\xa0 Eph.2:13-18;\xa0\xa0 Mk.6:30-34)\xa0 \u201cI myself will gather the remnant of my flock from all the lands to which I have driven them and bring them back to their meadow.\u201d \u201cThe Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.\xa0 In verdant pastures He gives me repose.\u201d\xa0 How true to Isaiah\u2019s prophecy are King David\u2019s words; and how true is Jesus as the \u201crighteous shoot to David\u201d who \u201cshall reign and govern wisely,\u201d who shepherds the people of God.\xa0 And how blessed \u201cthe house of the Lord\u201d in which we dwell \u201cfor years to come.\u201d Brothers and sisters, is not that shore onto which Jesus disembarks in our gospel today the place where He \u201crefreshes [our] soul\u201d?\xa0 Does He not make these \u201crestful waters\u201d for all who are \u201clike sheep without a shepherd\u201d?\xa0 For is He Himself not the ocean in which we are cleansed and so find our peace; does His teaching not shepherd our wayward hearts into secure pastures? \u201cHe came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near.\u201d\xa0 Is Paul not true in his preaching when he claims that through Jesus all \u201chave access in one Spirit to the Father\u201d?\xa0 Though before there may have been Gentile and Jew and a \u201cdividing wall of enmity\u201d between the two, though still division may persist in the nations of man, yet the Son has come \u201cthat He might create in Himself one new person,\u201d that He might reconcile both with God.\u201d\xa0 And so all are one in His peace which He offers \u201cthrough the cross.\u201d \u201cThis is the name they give Him: \u2018The Lord our justice,\u2019\u201d for He does \u201cwhat is just and right in the land.\u201d\xa0 To this land He has come; upon this earth He has disembarked.\xa0 And now \u201cmoved with pity\u201d He teaches us truth; \u201cHe guides [us] in right paths for His name\u2019s sake.\u201d\xa0 And faithful is He in His promise to \u201cappoint shepherds\u201d to lead us in His grace.\xa0 Already in our gospel we see the apostles rejoice in \u201call they have done and taught\u201d by His authority.\xa0 And so, peace we should find now in the walls of His Church, our daily bread offered at His pulpit and upon His altar. Thank you, Lord, for fulfilling your promise in our midst each day. Thank you for shepherding us to eternal glory.\xa0 Written, read & chanted, and produced by James Kurt. Music: "We Are God's Breath" (first half) from Breath, the Apple Rises, fifth album of Songs for Children of Light, by James Kurt. ******* O LORD, in Jesus we find our peace this day, for He shepherds our souls with care. YHWH, we are like sheep without a shepherd, scattered to the four corners of the earth, but your Son comes to gather us into His arms and make us one in His flesh.\xa0 For He looks upon our lost souls with pity and leads us kindly to your House.\xa0 In His blood let all be anointed, that we might find peaceful repose with you. How blessed are those whom you look upon in your goodness, LORD; how blessed those who seek your Son.\xa0 For they shall find Him ready to bless them with His presence and the Word from His sacred lips.\xa0 And no longer shall we be wanting for anything \u2013 if we have Him we are indeed at peace. To restful waters let us come with Him, He whom you raise up to do your will.\xa0 Then our souls shall be refreshed, LORD, and in security we shall ever dwell.\xa0 O the justice that rains down upon us by His presence in our midst!\xa0 Through His Cross, from all enmity we shall be set free.