Yesterday, we talked about how Jesus, while still in his mother’s womb, was taking the Good News to those who were prepared to acknowledge his presence. Today’s gospel reading (Matthew 9:35‑10:1,6‑8) shows Jesus as an adult constantly on the move, teaching in synagogues all over the region, proclaiming the Good News of God’s reign coming among them, and bringing healing to all who are sick and diseased. Matthew does not apply the title of “Good Shepherd” for Jesus, but he does indicate the deep compassion that Jesus has for all those who are harassed and depressed, people with no direction in their lives, who are like sheep without a shepherd. Jesus is clearly the Shepherd who can lead them back to where they belong.
Jesus tells his disciples that there is a huge harvest waiting to be reaped. So far, he has been working alone, but now he tells us that he needs help, especially after he is gone. There are very few people available to work in the harvest field. He then calls the Twelve and hands on to them his own powers to liberate people from evil powers and to heal all kinds of sickness.
The harvest is still great and the need for laborers is as great as ever, perhaps even greater. In asking the Lord to send laborers into the harvest, we must ask ourselves what the role is for each of us. It is not just a question of priests and religious. Jesus was not talking to priests and religious. There was no such thing as ‘religious’ at the time the Gospels were written. He was talking to every one of his followers—to every one of us who has been baptized. Every one of us is being called to be a harvester. Each one of us can reach a corner of the harvest field that is accessible to no one else. These include our family, our neighbors, our work colleagues and others who come into our lives. I may be the only person who brings Jesus with his healing and compassion into someone’s life.
What are we to do? We are to let people know that the Reign of God is very close, because God himself and Jesus are very close. Once we say yes to God and his Son, they become part of our lives. We are to do the same work Jesus told his disciples to do:
Cure the sick by our sympathy and support, which can often do more than any medical treatment.
Raise the dead. There are many who are intellectually, emotionally or socially dead. They are physically alive, but they have stopped living meaningful lives. We can help them to find life again.
Cleanse the lepers. We can approach all those people who are on the fringes of society, whom we neglect, ignore, despise, reject or avoid. There are the dropouts, those suffering from addictions including drugs or alcohol, even those addicted to pornography and sex, the homeless, single mothers, ‘sex workers’, and others—let them know they are accepted and loved by God.
Cast out demons: help people liberate themselves from the demons of fear, anger, hatred and violence; from drugs, alcohol, nicotine or sexual abuse (themselves and others); from greed for money, attention, status or the adulation of others.
There are so many people who need to hear and to experience the message of Christmas. Unfortunately, there are many for whom Christmas is bad news, a time of misery, depression and loneliness. Let us work to change that.
May God Bless You and Grant You His Peace!