Gospel: Mt 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 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.”
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As Jesus moves around the towns and villages, he realizes the enormity of people needing attention. He is moved with pity, not so much because they are sick or poor but because they are troubled, confused, abandoned, and leaderless, the rich included. They are hungry for the Word of God delivered by a credible preacher. They want to be on the right track. Up to now, they have been wandering without direction and are easily victimized by false missionaries.
Jesus asks his disciples to pray for more workers in the farmland of the Lord. He sends them to address the issue. The harvest is plenty.
We need to pray for more vocations and workers in the Kingdom of the Lord. So many young people, couples, and families today need spiritual, moral, and material support.
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SOURCE: “365 Days with the Lord,” ST PAULS, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 895-9701; Fax 895-7328; E-mail: [email protected]; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.
