Gospel: Matthew 9:36—10:8
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. The names of the
twelve apostles are these: first, Simon called Peter, and his brother Andrew;
James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John; Philip and Bartholomew, Thomas
and Matthew the tax collector; James, the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddeus; Simon
from Cana, and Judas Iscariot who betrayed him.
Jesus sent out these twelve after
instructing them thus, “Do not go into pagan territory or enter a Samaritan
town.
Go rather 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.”
We
are living in difficult times. The global economy is struggling, and the prices
of basic commodities continue to rise at an alarming pace. Many workers are
losing their jobs because of downsizing and the growing impact of artificial
intelligence. Uncertainty surrounds us, and we do not know how long these
challenges will last. The poor, who make up a large portion of our society, are
becoming poorer each day.
As
we look at the realities around us, we cannot help but believe that the heart
of Jesus is deeply moved with compassion. He sees every hungry child, every
unemployed parent, every family struggling to make ends meet, and every person
who feels forgotten and abandoned. The suffering of the poor is not hidden from
His eyes, nor is it distant from His heart.
The
poor of this world are many, but those who are willing to labor for them and
serve them sacrificially are few. There is a great need for compassionate
hearts and willing hands. Like the apostles whom Jesus summoned and sent out,
those of us who have been blessed with more are being called to help those who
have less.
We
do not have to look far to find them. They are around us—in our neighborhoods,
workplaces, communities, and even within our own circles of family and friends.
Many struggle daily just to put food on their tables and provide for their
loved ones.
The
apostles whom Jesus called were not wealthy or powerful. They were ordinary
people—fishermen, a tax collector, and sinners. Yet Jesus chose them, not
because of what they possessed, but because they were willing to respond to His
call. Their availability mattered more than their ability. Their willingness
opened the door for God to work through them in extraordinary ways.
The
signs of our times are calling us to listen once again to the voice of Jesus.
He invites us to feed the hungry, comfort the afflicted, and share our blessings,
no matter how small they may seem. Every act of kindness, every generous
gesture, every helping hand extended in love becomes a channel of God's grace
to someone in need.
Jesus
reminds us: "Without
cost you have received; without cost you are to give."
Everything we have—our time, talents, resources, opportunities, and
blessings—is ultimately a gift from God. We are not merely owners of these
gifts; we are stewards entrusted to use them for His glory and for the good of
others.
Today,
the Lord continues to look upon the crowds with compassion. He continues to see
the hungry, the lonely, the discouraged, and the poor. He also looks upon us
and asks whether we are willing to become His hands, His feet, and His heart in
a world that is hurting.
As
we kneel before the Lord in prayer, let us honestly examine our hearts. Are we
attentive to the cries of the poor? Are we willing to share what God has
entrusted to us? Are we ready to respond when Jesus calls us to serve those in
need?
If Jesus were to place a hungry person, a struggling family, or a needy neighbor before us today, would we recognize His presence in them—and would we be willing to give freely, love generously, and serve wholeheartedly as He has first loved us?— Marino J. Dasmarinas
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