First reading Exodus 19:2-6
I will count you a kingdom of priests, a consecrated nation
From Rephidim the sons of Israel set out again; and when they reached the wilderness of Sinai, there in the wilderness they pitched their camp; there facing the mountain Israel pitched camp.
Moses then went up to God, and the Lord called to him from the mountain, saying, ‘Say this to the House of Jacob, declare this to the sons of Israel, “You yourselves have seen what I did with the Egyptians, how I carried you on eagle’s wings and brought you to myself. From this you know that now, if you obey my voice and hold fast to my covenant, you of all the nations shall be my very own for all the earth is mine. I will count you a kingdom of priests, a consecrated nation.”’
Responsorial Psalm 99(100):2-3,5
We are his people, the sheep of his flock.
Cry out with joy to the Lord, all the earth.
Serve the Lord with gladness.
Come before him, singing for joy.
Know that he, the Lord, is God.
He made us, we belong to him,
we are his people, the sheep of his flock.
Indeed, how good is the Lord,
eternal his merciful love.
He is faithful from age to age.
Second reading Romans 5:6-11
Now we have been reconciled by the death of his Son, surely we may count on being saved by the life of his Son
We were still helpless when at his appointed moment Christ died for sinful men. It is not easy to die even for a good man – though of course for someone really worthy, a man might be prepared to die – but what proves that God loves us is that Christ died for us while we were still sinners. Having died to make us righteous, is it likely that he would now fail to save us from God’s anger? When we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, we were still enemies; now that we have been reconciled, surely we may count on being saved by the life of his Son? Not merely because we have been reconciled but because we are filled with joyful trust in God, through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have already gained our reconciliation.
Gospel Matthew 9:36-10:8
The harvest is rich but the labourers are few
When Jesus 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.’
He summoned his twelve disciples, and gave them authority over unclean spirits with power to cast them out and to cure all kinds of diseases and sickness.
These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon who is called Peter, and his brother Andrew; James the son of Zebedee, and his brother John; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, the one who was to betray him. These twelve Jesus sent out, instructing them as follows:
‘Do not turn your steps to pagan territory, and do not enter any Samaritan town; go rather to the lost sheep of the House of Israel. And as you go, proclaim that the kingdom of heaven is close at hand. Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out devils. You received without charge, give without charge.’
____________________________________________
A mission of compassion
Today’s Gospel passage begins with this statement: “When Jesus saw the crowds, he felt sorry for them because they were harassed and dejected, like sheep without a shepherd…” Jesus looks at the crowds, and his response to them is not indifference or annoyance, but deep compassion. He sees them being harassed by circumstances beyond their control, such as sickness, oppression by the Romans and heavy religious burdens. Jesus feels their pain as if it were His own and is thus moved to help them. The heart of Jesus is always towards human weakness. It is a call for us to desire the same heart of Jesus that is moved by people’s suffering, rather than remaining indifferent.
Out of compassion, Jesus tells His disciples to pray for more labourers for the mission and immediately sends them out as the answer to His prayer. Today, Jesus sends us out to be living signs that God’s kingdom is near. We may not perform dramatic miracles, but we are called to show God’s care and love. Today, may we see people with compassion and go with His strength to be living signs of His presence in the world.
Reflective question:
Where is God inviting me to reflect His presence, through justice, mercy, generosity, reconciliation, or speaking the truth?
Acknowledgment: Reflections are based on “Prayer for Living: The Word of God for Daily Prayer Year A” by Sr Maria Jose FMVD
