Gospel: Matthew 9:35–10:1, 5A, 6-8
Jesus went around to all the towns and villages, teaching in their
synagogues, proclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom, and curing every disease and
illness. At the sight of the crowds, his heart was moved with pity for them
because they were troubled and abandoned, like sheep without a shepherd. Then
he said to his disciples, “The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so
ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest.”
Then he summoned his twelve disciples and gave them authority over
unclean spirits to drive them out and to cure every disease and every illness.
Jesus sent out these Twelve after instructing them thus, “Go to the lost
sheep of the house of Israel. As you go, make this proclamation: ‘The Kingdom
of heaven is at hand.’ Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, drive out
demons. Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give.”
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Reflection:
Have you done something to bring others to the Lord? For example, you
asked a friend to go with you to the church to attend Holy Mass. Or you counseled
a friend to read the Bible so that he/she could know Jesus deeply.
“The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few (Matthew 9:37).” These
words of Jesus rings loudly to our ears today than ever before. Indeed this is
very true and very relevant for our times. We just need to look around our environment
and we would see the sad reality that there’s are many more who don’t know
Jesus.
Our labor for God must not be limited to our service in the church as
Extra-Ordinary Ministers of the the Holy Communion, as Catechist, as
Lectors/commentators and as members of other church ministries. We must put
more flesh in our involvement in our church by going out to those who are
hungry, who are physically/emotionally sick. We need to bring Jesus out to the
poor of our society for they too need Jesus they need Jesus to guide them.
Even if we are ordinary parishioners by virtue of our baptism we too are
called to share Jesus. A faith that grows is a faith that is shared. Beginning this
Advent season and onwards let us allow Jesus to use us as His instrument of
healing by helping the poor and the deprived.
But there are those who follow Jesus based on their own terms and
standards. They impose their own rule and not the rule of Jesus they follow
Christ based on their own self-rule. Thus, instead of embracing humility
they choose to embrace arrogance. Instead of winning converts and followers
they become the main reason why others walk away from the faith.
A good follower has rock solid faith, is neither self seeking nor
arrogant. He/She is rather humble and content to silently do his mission for
the greater glory of God.
Are you this kind of follower? – Marino J. Dasmarinas
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