EIGHTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
It is easy to see why the crowds followed Jesus: he was attentive to their physical needs, and performed marvelous works. In this gospel, though, it is clear that the people “don’t get it.” They wanted another sign. They had been fed to fullness and wanted to be dazzled. Jesus’ rebuke about not working for perishable food cuts straight to the heart. And the answer to their question, “What can we do to accomplish the works of God?”, is equally direct: “This is the work of God, that you believe in the one he sent.” In the exchanges between Jesus and the crowd, the people are asking questions about tangible, material things. Jesus’ answers call them, and us, to conversion, to see things differently. They wanted to see signs; he wanted them to see that he was the only “sign” necessary. They were still thinking about the bread that satisfied them; he wanted them to understand that he himself, was the bread that satisfies all hunger.
TOGETHER IN MISSION 2003
We still need your help to reach our goal for this year’s annual appeal. The “Together in Mission” appeal supports 30 parishes and 44 schools in the Archdiocese that simply cannot operate without our help. All funds collected are restricted to the “Together in Mission” campaign. We are getting closer to our goal of $59,748.00 for this year, but still need about $2,500 more to reach it. Thank you to those who have already contributed. If you have not yet made a donation, please prayerfully consider doing so.
STEWARDSHIP: FAITH IN ACTION
Sunday Offering: July 20, 2003 $13,894.00
Thank you for your continuing generosity!
REFLECTING ON THE ARCHDIOCESAN SYNOD PROCESS
What happened after the results of the Second Consultation were sent to the Synod Office? Lots of work for the Synod Ministry Team! Proposals and suggestions were recorded into broad categories such as Eucharistic Liturgy, Adult Formation, Reaching Out to Young Adults, Intensifying Teen Formation, Cultivating/Sustaining Celibate Vocations, Cultivating/Sustaining Vocation to Marriage, Parenting and Family Life, Increasing Lay Involvement, etc. A report for all the representatives coming to Regional Synod Assemblies was prepared that incorporated concrete proposals and included some actual comments. The top 45 suggestions addressing the concerns reported in the speak-up sessions was also included and sent to each representative. The Regional assemblies in the fall of 2002 had enthusiastic and committed representatives who engaged in prayer, dialogue, discernment, and decision. The results of each Region’s proposals were combined with all the other Regions as the agenda for the Archdiocesan Synod. Representatives also made recommendations to their Regional Bishops of individuals they thought would make good delegates to the Archdiocesan Synod.
MARRIAGE ENCOUNTER WEEKEND
A weekend that renews the romance and excitement you experienced during your dating days. The next weekends are in Santa Barbara at the Mission, Sept. 12-14 or in Los Angeles, Sept. 26-28. Call Amber and Felix Masci at 581-1671 for more information.
SAVE THESE DATES!
Fr. Vince’s final Masses will be on September 7th. We will hold a farewell party on September 8th, from 4:30-8:30 PM at the Cabrillo Arts Pavilion.
EUCHARISTIC MINISTRY“An important office of immense love”
In spite of the unworthiness we may feel to serve the Body and Blood of Christ, it is truly God who calls us to minister the Eucharist to one another. Might God be calling you to this ministry? On Saturday, August 16th, at 10:00 AM in the church, we will have a training session for new Eucharistic Ministers. Please call the parish office if you plan to attend.
SUNDAY COFFEE HOUR NEEDS MUSCLE
Our Sunday Coffee Hour team is looking for strong backs to move tables around. Please contact Charlotte Nelson at 569-6892 for more information.
JAIL MINISTRY CHAPLAIN NEEDS HOUSING
Marciano Avilla, our new Jail Ministry Chaplain, is looking for a large unfurnished room with bathroom access and house/kitchen privileges. Please call him at 895-4813 if you can help him find a place to stay.
CATHOLIC CHARITIES FOOD DRIVE
After all the Masses on the weekend of August 31st, Catholic Charities will be collecting non-perishable food items. Please join in sharing generously.
SPECIAL FEAST DAYS IN AUGUST
As a Franciscan community, we celebrate several special feast days during the month of August. We invite you to join us for these liturgies:
August 2nd—Feast of Our Lady of the Angels of the Portiuncula: The Portiuncula is the little church of Our Lady of the Angeles that St. Francis rebuilt. He so loved that church that he asked to be taken there to die. We celebrated this feast at the 4:00 PM Mass.
August 6th—Feast of the Transfiguration of Jesus: Jesus was radiantly transfigured and appeared with Moses and Elijah in front of Peter, James and John. Everything that God had communicated to Israel was now to be understood as fulfilled in the person of Jesus. Mass will be at noon (there will be no 7:30 AM Mass).
August 8th—Feast of St. Dominic: Dominic founded the Order of Preachers (Dominicans). He was a contemporary of St. Francis and to this day, the Franciscans and the Dominicans have a very close relationship. Mass will be at noon (No 7:30 AM Mass this day).
August 11th—Feast of St. Clare of Assisi: Clare was a follower and close friend of St. Francis. Like Francis, she traded her life of wealth for a future with “Lady Poverty.” Her choice was both a challenge and an example to others. Mass will be at noon (No 7:30 AM Mass this day).
August 14th—Feast of St. Maximilian Kolbe: Maximilian was a prisoner at Auschwitz where, in imitation of Jesus, he willingly gave his own life in order to spare the life of a condemned man with a young family. Mass will be at noon (No 7:30 AM Mass this day).
August 15th—Solemnity of the Assumption of Mary into Heaven, a Holy Day: Mary’s assumption into heaven is explicitly linked with Christ’s resurrection. It is the foretaste of what God has in store for us. Masses will be at 7:30 AM, 12 Noon, & 7:30 PM.
ATTENTION ALL CATECHISTS, LECTORS, EUCHARISTIC MINISTERS, AND OTHER MINISTRY MINDED PARISHIONERS.The Center for Religion and Spirituality at Loyola Marymount University will offer a day of reflection on “Spirituality for Ministry” on Saturday, September 6th, from 9:30 AM until 3:30 PM at the LMU campus in Los Angeles (near LAX). For more information, or to register, please visit http://extension.lmu.edu/religion on the web, e-mail CRS@lmu.edu, or call (310) 338-2799.
NINETEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
Reading I: Kings 19:4-8; Reading II:
Ephesians 4:30-5:2; Gospel: John 6:41-51

The theme of “bread from heaven” is developed in many ways in this chapter of John’s Gospel. Today’s reading opens with the people murmuring. Since he was born in time, since the people knew his father and his mother, Jesus simply could not have come from heaven. Jesus does not meet their objection directly. He raises the discussion to a higher level. To understand him, it is necessary to have faith. Only God can give faith. God holds out the gift to all who are open to receive it. Faith is acceptance of Jesus and this faith in Jesus, eating the living bread, gives eternal life. Where does your life need nourishing? Describe a time when you felt empty inside. What helped you through that empty period? Describe a time when someone fulfilled a hunger or a need in your life. Relate a time when you were misjudged or misinterpreted when you told the truth or did something good. Describe a time when you offered help to another and were rejected. How did you feel, and what did you do? How does believing in eternal life affect your daily life?

SEVENTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
Many are the reflections that have been offered about the miracle of the loaves and fishes in today’s Gospel. Generous sharing of what we have and who we are is certainly one of the multiple themes running through this story. We don’t really know what happened that day on the side of the mountain. What we do know is that through a divine multiplication of bread and fish, and the presence and impact of Jesus leading people to generous sharing, people’s lives were forever changed. Andrew brought the little boy to Jesus and Jesus worked a miracle because the little boy had been willing to share. How willing are we to share our goods and our lives with others? How often do we bring people to Jesus?
TOGETHER IN MISSION 2003
We still need your help to reach our goal for this year’s annual appeal. The “Together in Mission” appeal supports 30 parishes and 44 schools in the Archdiocese that simply cannot operate without our help. All funds collected are restricted to the “Together in Mission” campaign. We are getting closer to our goal of $59,748.00 for this year, but still need to raise about $3,000 more to reach it. Thank you to those who have already contributed. If you have not yet made a donation, please prayerfully consider doing so.
STEWARDSHIP: FAITH IN ACTION
Sunday Offering: July 20, 2003 $9,951.50
National Needs Collection $1,162.00

Thank you for your continuing generosity!

REFLECTING ON THE ARCHDIOCESAN SYNOD PROCESS
With the concerns from the fall 2001 Synod speak-ups categorized by the five areas essential to our faith, what happened next? Another grass-roots listening session! This time, however, people were asked “What should be done?” and “Who should do it?” Those who conducted this Second Consultation were parish representatives who would attend Regional Synod Assemblies in the fall. In early January, parishes were asked to select these representatives using a consultative process in which parishioners could participate. The number of representatives each parish was entitled to was one priest, preferably the pastor, and two representatives. Larger parishes were allotted additional lay representatives based on the size of the parish. These representatives were commissioned before Easter and attended a training session in March to do the Second Consultation in their own parishes. The results of this second grass-roots consultation were once again sent to the Synod office to be recorded.
THEOLOGY ON TAP FOR YOUNG ADULTS
Saturday evenings at 7:30 PM at St. Mary Magdalen Church in Camarillo. Contact Deanna at 529-8644.
UPCOMING SESSION TOPICS
July 26—Relationships: ”And They Lived Happily Ever After?” (Dr. Paul Ford and Dr. Janice Daurio)
August 2—Morality: “Don’t Tell Me What To Do!”
ROSARY FOR PEACE
You are invited to join us each Saturday morning following the 7:30 AM Mass as we pray together the Rosary for Peace, using Pope John Paul’s luminous mysteries. For Catholic Christians, the Rosary has been a means of bringing light into a darkened world since the 13th century.
NEW EUCHARISTIC MINISTER TRAINING
Would you like to become a Eucharistic Minister? Come to our new Eucharistic Minister training on Saturday, August 16th, at 10:00 AM, in the church.
COFFEE HOUR NEEDS MUSCLE
Our Sunday Coffee Hour team is looking for some strong backs to help move tables at the close of Sunday Hospitality after the 10:30 AM Mass. Please contact Charlotte Nelson (569-6892) if you can help.
BIBLE CAMP IS COMING
San Roque’s Bible Camp is coming August 4th-8th from 9:00 AM - 12:00 Noon. The theme this year is “SCUBA, Super Cool Underwater Bible Adventure,” Call San Roque Church at 682-1097 for more information. If you can help with this underwater adventure, please call Valerie Roses at 682-6380.
ANNUAL MISSION SANTA INÉS FIESTA
Old Mission Santa Inés has set it’s 32nd Annual Fiesta celebration for Saturday and Sunday, August 9th and 10th, from noon until 7:00 PM on the meadow adjacent to the church. Come join the fun! Call 688-4815 for more information
JAIL MINISTRY CHAPLAIN NEEDS HOUSING
Marciano Avilla, Santa Barbara’s new Archdiocesan Jail Ministry Chaplain needs a place to live. He is looking for a large unfurnished room (private entrance preferable) with bathroom access (shared is okay) and house/kitchen privileges (so he can cook meals). Please call Marciano at 895-4813 if you can help him find a place to stay.
CHERISH ALL LIFE
Two bills destructive of human life are before the State Assembly. SB322 & SB771 are an extension of legislation authored last year that legalized the killing of human embryos. That law permits the derivation of human embryonic stem and germ cells which necessitate the killing of human beings at their embryonic stage.

SB 322, Stem Cell Research would establish guidelines and an institutional review board to approve proposals for embryonic stem cell research projects.

SB 771, Human cells, embryo registry, egg cell donation would create a state-run registry for excess embryos from fertility treatments and for donated human eggs to facilitate their access for research that ultimately destroys them.

Please contact Assemblywoman Hannah-Beth Jackson by fax, phone, email, or letter. Inform her that you are a voter in her Assembly District (AD35) and urge her to oppose SB322 and SB771. Call 805-564-1649/916-319-2035, Fax 805-564-1651/916-319-2135, Email Assemblymember.Jackson@assembly.ca.gov, Mail Assemblywoman Jackson, State Capitol, Sacramento, CA 95814.

Also, contact Governor Davis and urge his veto if these bills reach him. Call 213-897-0322/916-445-2841, Fax 213-897-0319/916-445-4633, Mail Governor Gray Davis, State Capitol, CA 95814

SIXTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
The Paschal Mystery calls us to enter into the dying and rising rhythm of Jesus and live it out in our everyday circumstances. The only way we can translate this call from theory to practice is to learn the voice of the Shepherd, listen to the good news, and follow faithfully. Like our Shepherd we, too, must be moved to pity for others and ease their fear and trembling. We, too, must search for those missing and bring them back to security. But like the apostles, at times we, too, need to depart to a deserted place to rest. Part of living the rhythm of the Paschal Mystery is to discern when to care for others and when to care for ourselves. This is not always such an easy balance to achieve. So we look to the Good Shepherd to learn when to teach and do good deeds, and when to rest. Do we learn the voice of our Shepherd? Do we know his voice? Jesus is the one to whom we turn, who invites us to rest, who is moved to pity at our hungers. Do we follow faithfully?
TOGETHER IN MISSION 2003
We still need your help to reach our goal for this year’s annual appeal. The “Together in Mission” appeal supports 30 parishes and 44 schools in the Archdiocese that simply cannot operate without our help. All funds collected are restricted to the “Together in Mission” campaign . Our goal this year is $59,748.00 and we are still over $5,000 short of reaching it. Thank you to those who have already contributed so generously. If you have not yet made a donation, please prayerfully consider doing so.
STEWARDSHIP: FAITH IN ACTION
Sunday Offering: July 13, 2003 $9,662.00
Thank you for your continuing generosity!
REFLECTING ON THE ARCHDIOCESAN SYNOD PROCESS
With all the data received from the fall 2001 Synod speak-up sessions, what was the next step? Remember prayer, dialogue, discernment, and decision? This was discernment time, and a group of committed Catholics throughout the Archdiocese—bishops, priests, deacons, sisters, bothers, laymen, and laywomen—met for a full day of prayer, dialogue, and discernment. They were members of the Synod Steering Body, a group presided over by Cardinal Mahony who gave direction to pre-synod planning and administration; the Synod Preparatory Commission, who were individuals chosen by the Bishops and representative of a wide rage of ministries, parishes, pastoral regions, and cultural/ethnic groups; and others invited for their pastoral wisdom and experience. What emerged from the raw data were five areas essential to our faith that could be heard as a call to live more fully in the mission of Christ and the Spirit. All the concerns were placed within these five areas: Formation in Discipleship; Holiness; Leadership in the Church; Stewardship; and Witness to Christ in the World.
CATHOLIC CHARITIES OFFERS PROFESSIONAL COUNSELING SERVICES
Catholic Charities offers professional psychological counseling to individuals, couples and families. A very reasonable sliding scale is available. The office is located at 609 E. Haley St. Santa Barbara. Call (805) 965-7045, ext. 102 for English; Spanish speakers or bilingual call (805) 965-7045, ext. 114.
TRAVELING THIS SUMMER?
For nationwide Mass times and locations, call Mass Times (410) 676-6000 or visit www.MassTimes.org
CELEBRATE THE FEAST OF ST. MARY OF MAGDALA
Mary of Magdala is the primary witness to the most central events of the Christian faith. In all four Gospels her name appears as leading the group that discovers the empty tomb. In John’s Gospel, she alone discovers the empty tomb. She is the first to encounter the Risen Christ, and is sent by Christ to announce the Good News of the Resurrection to the other disciples. Please join us on July 22nd at 12:00 Noon as we celebrate the Feast of Mary of Magdala with a special, festive Mass. There will not be a 7:30 AM Mass on that day.
THEOLOGY ON TAP FOR YOUNG ADULTS
Come join us for this four-week speaker and conversation series. Contemplate new ways of seeing God in your life and quench your spiritual thirst in a relaxing and fun environment. “Theology-On-Tap”- Saturday evenings at 7:30 PM, July 26th - August 16th at St. Mary Magdalen Church in Camarillo (2532 Ventura Blvd). Contact Deanna at (805) 529-8644 for more information.
July 26—Relationships: ”And They Lived Happily Ever After?” (Dr. Paul Ford and Dr. Janice Daurio)
August 2—Morality: “Don’t Tell Me What To Do!”
(Fr. David Heney)
SAVE THESE DATES!
Fr. Vince’s final Masses will be on September 7th. We will hold a farewell party on September 8th, from 4:30-8:30 PM at the Cabrillo Arts Pavilion.
NATIONAL NEEDS COLLECTION
Today we are asked to support the 2003 National Needs Combined Collection, Sharing the Good News, supporting The Catholic Communication Campaign, The Black and Indian Home Missions, The Catholic University of America, The Catholic Home Missions Appeal, and more. Please consider making a donation in support of these worthy Catholic causes today.
ROSARY FOR PEACE
You are invited to join us each Saturday morning following the 7:30 AM Mass as we pray together the Rosary for Peace, using Pope John Paul’s luminous mysteries. For Catholic Christians, the Rosary has been a means of bringing light into a darkened world since the 13th century.
HANDICAPABLES LUNCHEON AND MASS
Holy Cross Church (1740 Cliff Dr.) will host the Handicapables Luncheon and Mass on Saturday, July 26th, with Mass at 11:30 AM followed by lunch. For information, call Shirley Dettmann at 967-9985.
“I was a stranger and you welcomed me”
WOULD YOU BE ABLE TO HOST A FOREIGN
EXCHANGE STUDENT AUGUST 15-30?
A group of high school students from Japan, who will be participating in an intensive English/culture study program at UCSB are in need of housing. Working people, retired people, singles, and couples would all be suitable hosts for these students. The students will be involved at UCSB all day, everyday, except on weekends, when they will participate in the regular activities of their host families. They have insurance and spending money and communicate well in English. To offer hospitality to a Japanese student, please contact Carol Potter at (866) 962-5701

SEVENTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
Reading I: 2 Kings 4:42-44; Reading II:
Ephesians 4:1-6; Gospel: John 6:1-15

Both the first reading and the Gospel today tell stories of God feeding hungry people through the words and works of prophets. For the next five Sundays, we will hear the Bread of Life teaching from John’s Gospel. For John, all of Jesus’ acts are “signs”—sacraments—that point to a deeper reality. It is clear that the people do not appreciate the deeper meaning of the miracle of the multiplication of the loaves. The reaction of the crowd showed that they thought wrongly that Jesus was the triumphant and political Messiah. So Jesus goes “back to the mountain alone.” The people had indeed misread the sign. Share an experience in the recent past in which you recognized a definite sign of the Lord working in your life. Describe a time when you experienced abundance in your life. When have you shared your small amount with another? How did this make a difference in the person’s life, and/or in yours? From your experience, when did you get so caught up in physical needs—just making a living– that there was no time and energy for anything else?

FIFTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
So much in today’s gospel speaks to us as contemporary followers of Jesus. Among other things, this story invites us to ponder the virtue of hospitality. In Jesus’ time, when a stranger entered a village, it was the obligation of the entire village to offer hospitality to that person. Hospitality was considered no less than a sacred duty. Note that Jesus told his disciples that if hospitality was not forthcoming, they were to shake the dust of the place from their feet and move on. This gesture was the practice of the Jews as they passed from pagan lands into the Holy Land of Israel, and was symbolic of God’s judgment upon those lands that had rejected God. Today, we have the same obligation to offer Christian hospitality to each person we encounter. This is particularly true when we come together to celebrate the Eucharist. In the most profound gesture of hospitality, we come together to receive Christ and to receive one another in the name of Christ. As with the villages of ancient times, it is our sacred duty to greet and welcome one another, especially the stranger among us. At the end of Mass, we are sent forth to bring that same hospitality into the world.
TOGETHER IN MISSION 2003
We still need your help to reach our goal for this year’s annual appeal. The “Together in Mission” appeal supports 30 parishes and 44 schools in the Archdiocese that simply cannot operate without our help. All funds collected are restricted to the “Together in Mission” campaign . Our goal this year is $59,748.00. To date we have collected $54,191.00. Thank you to those who have already contributed so generously. We still have a short fall of $5,557. If you have not yet made a donation, please prayerfully consider it.
STEWARDSHIP: FAITH IN ACTION
Sunday Offering: July 6, 2003 $11,198.00
Thank you for your continuing generosity!
REFLECTING ON THE ARCHDIOCESAN SYNOD PROCESS
How did Synod delegates accomplish the milestone to make bold but difficult decisions to choose one or two top priority goals from a list that had many important goals? In the Proclamation that formally opened the Synod on September 30, 2001, Cardinal Mahony invited everyone, clergy, religious, and laity, to prepare for this event by listening anew to the Word of God, by praying for enlightenment and wisdom, and by participating through dialogue and discernment to bring forth a renewed vision of our local Church, rooted in compassion, communion, and justice. Grass-roots listening sessions started that fall with over 28,000 people gathered to listen and speak up about the issues they considered important to the future vitality and mission of the Church in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. Attesting to the diversity in Los Angeles thee were the 10 languages used in the 716 speak-up sessions held in parishes, schools, convents, college campuses, and even detention centers. The Synod office trained 1,718 facilitators and scribes (in both English and Spanish) to conduct these sessions with the scribes forwarding their results to the Synod office for tabulation. Top concerns were: ministry to youth and young adults, including resources needed to reach them and forming them theologically and spiritually for discipleships; forming adult Catholics in their faith ; re-evangelizing our own Catholic people; the rapidly diminishing number of priests and few new vocations to the priesthood; and, the passing on of a vibrant faith to the next generation. With all that data to sift through, what was the next step?
TRAVELING THIS SUMMER?
For nationwide Mass times and locations, call Mass Times (410) 676-6000 or visit www.MassTimes.org
CELEBRATE THE FEAST OF ST. MARY MAGDALEN
Mary of Magdala is the primary witness to the most central events of the Christian faith. In all four Gospels her name appears as leading the group that discovers the empty tomb. In John’s Gospel, she alone discovers the empty tomb. She is the first to encounter the Risen Christ, and is sent by Christ to announce the Good News of the Resurrection to the other disciples. Please join us on July 22nd at 12:00 noon as we celebrate the Feast of Mary Magdalen with a special, festive Mass. There will not be a 7:30 AM Mass on that day.
THANK YOU ST. BARBARA PARISH
Dear Friends in Christ,
On behalf of our retired priests, may I express our deep gratitude to you for your generosity to the Retirement Fund of Archdiocesan Priests. The wonderful response to this special collection from so many people is truly a great blessing. Scripture reminds us that we are our brothers’ keepers, and through your gift of $1,183.00, you are now counted among those who show deep concern for our priests. Your kind gift helps assure that our aging and infirm priests are taken care of with dignity in their retirement years. Your gift will also be matched dollar for dollar by a generous friend, so it is twice as valuable for our retired priests. I am well aware of the many requests you receive each year, and your decision to support our priests bears witness to your love of the Church, and it affirms our priests who play such a vital role in the lives of all the People of God. Thanking you again for your generous support of all our priests, and asking the Lord’s blessings upon you, I am gratefully yours in Christ, Cardinal Roger Mahony
THEOLOGY ON TAP FOR YOUNG ADULTS
Come join us for this four week speaker and conversation series. Contemplate new ways of seeing God in your life and quench your spiritual thirst in a relaxing and fun environment. “Theology-On-Tap”- Saturday evenings at 7:30 PM, July 26th - August 16th at St. Mary Magdalen Church in Camarillo. Call Joe at (661) 942-8887, or Deanna at (805) 529-8644.
SAVE THE DATES!
Fr. Vince’s final Masses will be on September 7th. We will hold a farewell party on September 8th, from 4:30—8:30 PM at the Cabrillo Arts Pavilion.
NATIONAL NEEDS COLLECTION
Next weekend we will be participating in the 2003 National Needs Combined Collection, Sharing the Good News. Your generosity supports the Catholic Communication Campaign, the Black and Indian Home Missions, the Catholic University of America, the Catholic Home Missions Appeal, and more.
ROSARY FOR PEACE
You are invited to join us each Saturday morning following the 7:30 AM Mass as we pray together the Rosary for Peace, using Pope John Paul’s luminous mysteries. For Catholic Christians, the Rosary has been a means of bringing light into a darkened world since the 13th century.
SIXTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
Reading I: Jeremiah 23:1-6; Reading II:
Ephesians 2:13-18; Gospel: Mark 6:30-34
Jesus looks at the crowd with great feeling. They have no one to feed them with the teaching that will give them life or with the physical food to stay alive. Jesus appreciates how vulnerable people are and how fragile their lives are. Like sheep, they will die without a shepherd to keep them together, show them the way, and feed them. Seeing their need, Jesus himself begins to teach. He becomes shepherd to the leaderless flock. Jesus calls his disciples to be the kind of shepherd he is. The disciples, of course, will not understand this kind of leadership until after the death and resurrection of Jesus.

When have you felt let down or disappointed by someone you looked to for leadership, guidance, or direction?

When have you tried to escape the needs of others only to find that their needs for your attention were greater than your need to be away from it all? How did you feel about the demands placed on you?
When in your life have you felt like a sheep without a shepherd? What did you do?