GOSPEL READING:
Matthew 9:36-38, 10:1-89:36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; 38 pray therefore the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest."
10:1 And he called to him his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every infirmity. 2 The names of the twelve apostles are these: first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; 3 Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; 4 Simon the Cananaean, and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him. 5 These twelve Jesus sent out, charging them, "Go nowhere among the Gentiles, and enter no town of the Samaritans, 6 but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 7 And preach as you go, saying, `The kingdom of heaven is at hand.' 8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received without paying, give without pay.
Meditation: Do you believe in the life-changing power of
the Gospel and experience its transforming effect in your life?
The core of the Gospel message is quite simple: the kingdom
(or reign) of God is very near! What is the kingdom of God?
It is that society of men and women who know God's love and mercy,
and who willingly obey and honor God as their Lord and King. In
the prayer which Jesus gave to his disciples (the Lord's
Prayer or Our Father), he taught them to pray for
God to reign in their daily lives and in the world around them: May
your kingdom come and your will be done on earth as it is in
heaven.
The power of the Gospel to heal and set free
When Jesus proclaimed the good news of God's kingdom he also
demonstrated the power of the Gospel with supernatural signs and
wonders. Jesus healed people who suffered physical, emotional, and
mental illnesses. He freed people from spiritual bondage to sin
and demonic powers. Jesus gave his disciples the same authority he
had to heal and set people free from spiritual bondage.
The Gospel (which literally means "good news") which Jesus
proclaimed is just as relevant and real today, the kingdom of
heaven is at hand. If we believe in the Lord Jesus, the Word
of God made flesh, and in the power of the Gospel, we will know
and experience the freedom, joy, and power he gives us that
enables us to live and witness as his disciples. No one can buy
heaven; but if we know the love and mercy of Jesus Christ, then we
already possess heaven in our hearts! Do you believe that Jesus
can change and transform your life and share with you the power
and authority of God's kingdom?
Jesus chose ordinary people to do extraordinary work
Jesus commissioned his disciples to carry on the works which he
did - to speak God's word and to bring his healing power to the
weary and oppressed. In the choice of the twelve apostles we see a
characteristic feature of God's work - Jesus chose very ordinary
people. They were non-professionals, had no wealth or privileged
position. They were chosen from the common people who did ordinary
things, had no special education, and no social advantages.
Jesus wanted ordinary people who could take an assignment and do
it extraordinarily well. He chose these men, not for what they
were, but for what they would be capable of becoming under his
direction and power. When the Lord calls us to serve, we must not
think we have nothing or very little to offer. The Lord takes what
ordinary people, like us, can offer and uses it for greatness in
his kingdom. Do you believe that God wants to work in and through
you for his glory?
Lord Jesus, you have chosen me to be your disciple. Take and use what I can offer, however meager it may seem, for the greater glory of your name.
Psalm 105:2-7
2 Sing to him, sing praises to him, tell of all his wonderful works!
3 Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice!
4 Seek the LORD and his strength, seek his presence continually!
5 Remember the wonderful works that he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he uttered,
6 O offspring of Abraham his servant, sons of Jacob, his chosen ones!
7 He is the LORD our God; his judgments are in all the earth.
Daily Quote from the Early Church Fathers: Jesus empowers his disciples to act in his name, by John Chrysostom (347-407 AD)
"If the Spirit had not yet been given, since Jesus had not yet
been glorified, how then did the disciples cast out the unclean
spirits? They did this by his own command, by the Son's
authority.2 Note the careful timing of their mission. They were
not sent out at the beginning of their walk with him. They were
not sent out until they had sufficiently benefited by following
him daily. It was only after they had seen the dead raised, the
sea rebuked, devils expelled, the legs of a paralytic brought to
life, sins remitted, lepers cleansed, and had received a
sufficient proof of his power both by deeds and words - only then
did he send them out. And he did not send them out unprepared to
do dangerous deeds, for as yet there was no danger in Palestine.
They had only to stand against verbal abuse. However, Jesus still
warned them of larger perils to come, preparing them for what was
future." (excerpt from THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW,
HOMILY 32.3)
