First reading Genesis 32:23-33
Jacob wrestles with God
Jacob rose, and taking his two wives and his two slave-girls and his eleven children he crossed the ford of the Jabbok. He took them and sent them across the stream and sent all his possessions over too. And Jacob was left alone.
And there was one that wrestled with him until daybreak who, seeing that he could not master him, struck him in the socket of his hip, and Jacob’s hip was dislocated as he wrestled with him. He said, ‘Let me go, for day is breaking.’ But Jacob answered, ‘I will not let you go unless you bless me.’ He then asked, ‘What is your name?’ ‘Jacob’, he replied. He said, ‘Your name shall no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have been strong against God, you shall prevail against men.’ Jacob then made this request, ‘I beg you, tell me your name’, but he replied, ‘Why do you ask my name?’ And he blessed him there.
Jacob named the place Peniel, ‘Because I have seen God face to face,’ he said ‘and I have survived.’ The sun rose as he left Peniel, limping because of his hip. That is the reason why to this day the Israelites do not eat the sciatic nerve which is in the socket of the hip; because he had struck Jacob in the socket of the hip on the sciatic nerve.
Responsorial Psalm 16(17):1-3,6-8
Lord, in my justice I shall see your face.
Lord, hear a cause that is just,
pay heed to my cry.
Turn your ear to my prayer:
no deceit is on my lips.
Lord, in my justice I shall see your face.
From you may my judgement come forth.
Your eyes discern the truth.
You search my heart, you visit me by night.
You test me and you find in me no wrong.
Lord, in my justice I shall see your face.
I am here and I call, you will hear me, O God.
Turn your ear to me; hear my words.
Display your great love, you whose right hand saves
your friends from those who rebel against them.
Lord, in my justice I shall see your face.
Guard me as the apple of your eye.
Hide me in the shadow of your wings.
In my justice I shall see your face
and be filled, when I awake, with the sight of your glory.
Lord, in my justice I shall see your face.
Gospel Matthew 9:32-37
The harvest is rich but the labourers are few
A man was brought to Jesus, a dumb demoniac. And when the devil was cast out, the dumb man spoke and the people were amazed. ‘Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel’ they said. But the Pharisees said, ‘It is through the prince of devils that he casts out devils.’
Jesus made a tour through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the Good News of the kingdom and curing all kinds of diseases and sickness.
And when he saw the crowds he felt sorry for them because they were harassed and dejected, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is rich but the labourers are few, so ask the Lord of the harvest to send labourers to his harvest.’
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Labourers for God’s harvest
In today’s Gospel, Jesus healed a dumb man, and the people who witnessed this healing were amazed, saying, “Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel”. However, the Pharisees who saw the same event and said, “It is through the prince of devils that he drives out devils”. One group saw goodness in the person of Jesus, while the other group was blinded by their judgment and regarded His work as evil. Today, Jesus invites us to have a heart of mercy that recognises the goodness in others and rejoices in the good they do, even those with whom we find it difficult to get along. We ask Jesus to help us let go of pride and jealousy so that we can see Him at work through the lives of others.
In the Gospel, Jesus said to His disciples, “The harvest is rich but the labourers are few, so ask the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers to his harvest.” These words continue to resonate in our hearts today. Jesus calls us to be His co-workers and work in God’s harvest. A good way to begin is to be His hands and feet in the places where we are, and do good for the benefit of others.
Reflective question:
In what way can I be Jesus’ co-worker in His mission?
Acknowledgment: Reflections are based on “Prayer for Living: The Word of God for Daily Prayer Year C” by Sr Maria Jose FMVD.
