In today’s gospel Matthew wrote this about Jesus: “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.” Jesus’ heart is a beautiful thing. His entire life was not so much about theology, or learning or understanding. He simply loved people. If you remember the readings for mass earlier this week, Jesus also said, “My heart is moved with pity for the crowd.” (Mt 15: 32).
Jesus loves us, individually, and collectively. In today’s gospel he said that “The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few: so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest.” This is a call in our modern times, to pray for vocations to the priesthood. Things haven’t changed a whole lot in 2,000 years. The harvest is still abundant, but the laborers are few in many countries like the US. However, other countries like those in Africa, have an overabundance of men called to the priesthood but they need help to educate these men in the seminary. Many of these newly ordained priests leave their homeland and serve in foreign countries that have a shortage of priests, like the US, so this is truly a worldwide effort.
Jesus also told his disciples in today’s gospel to “Go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” Unfortunately, in many countries that were once the bedrock of our Catholic faith, many Catholics have turned from the faith of their fathers and no longer go to mass. This is especially true in some of the European countries, and there is a need for new evangelization efforts there.
The last thing Christ said in today’s gospel is, “Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give.” This was meant for his apostles who cured the sick, raised the dead, cleansed the lepers and drove out demons. But, it could apply to us as well. The church needs our financial assistance and even a small amount per person can add up to become something beautiful for the Lord.
Together we can do some amazing things, but we can also contribute toward building up the body of Christ with our time and talent too. This is actually harder to do sometimes than it is to give money. It requires stepping out of our comfort zone and trying new things. That is exactly what the twelve disciples did in today’s gospel, though. They were embarking on a journey into new, uncharted territory. There is risk involved in trying new things, but the Lord doesn’t call the trained (like the Pharisees in his time), he trains the called (the fishermen in his time and other average people in modern times).
Many people are afraid to give their money away, for fear they may need it, and they do have a right to be concerned for their future needs. However, in the first reading for mass today, the prophet Isaiah explains the beautiful manner in which God takes care of those He loves. His tender care and concern for his people’s emotional, spiritual, and physical well being is very profound in this reading. If you have not read the first reading for mass yet, it is well worth your time to sit down and take the time to read it slowly. It is fertile ground for contemplation. It is truly beautiful. (Isaiah 30: 29-21, 23-26)
The main theme of the reading is that God’s people will weep no more. He will give them rain for their crops, which will grow rich and abundant. Their flocks will have spacious meadows to graze in and the people will have oxen to till their soil for them. Streams of running water will flow from every high mountain.
Calamities are sure to befall the people on earth, but the Lord will bind up the wounds of his people, he will heal the bruises left by his blows. That sounds harsh, but we are sometimes chastised by God for our sins, or those things we fail to do, that we should do. He heals us even when it is our own fault that we suffer because of our sins. So much of our suffering is because of our sins, or others whose sins affect us. The good Lord wishes to heal all of these hurts, if we come to Him and are willing to allow Him to heal us.
In many parishes, confessions are held on Saturdays. If you have a chance to go and experience Christ’s healing through this beautiful sacrament today, then perhaps you can experience this deep seated sense of peace for yourself. Why put if off? There isn’t anything else you could do today that would be such a healing balm for your soul. It’s worth it, to take the time away from your chores and tasks that need done and go to confession. When you leave the confessional, you will be glad you did!
