Gospel: Mt 9:32-38
A DEMONIAC who could not speak was brought to Jesus, and when the demon was driven out the mute person spoke. The crowds were amazed and said, “Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel.” But the Pharisees said, “He drives out demons by the prince of demons.”
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.”
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The devil’s oppression of the man dramatizes the destructive power of sin. Jesus sees this as he scans the crowds of people who follow him. He has compassion on his fellow Jews, knowing how they are heavily taxed by an oppressive regime. The religious leaders, namely the scribes and the Pharisees, preach salvation based on the Law that is very complicated and has become a burden to people.
Jesus comes precisely to inaugurate the Kingdom of his heavenly Father. Through his teaching, preaching, healing, and exorcism, Jesus reveals the face of God as the Good Shepherd. He seeks out the lost, feeds the hungry, and sets the oppressed free. He asks that more shepherds will come to pasture his flock in the future.
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SOURCE: “365 Days with the Lord 2017” ST. PAULS Philippines, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 895-9701; Fax 895-7328; E-mail: [email protected]; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.
